Southeastern PA & the Commonwealth Budget: An Analysis of the Region’s Share of General Fund

Southeastern Pennsylvania, home to a diverse and large economy and one-third of Pennsylvania’s population, serves as an economic engine and tax base for the state. In fact, the region is a net-contributor to the General Fund – the portion of the state budget over which lawmakers have the most discretion and which funds key services such as education and human services.

At the request of the Metropolitan Caucus, a convening body of elected officials from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties and the City of Philadelphia, the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia drafted this report detailing the state revenues generated by the region. This report also estimates southeastern Pennsylvania’s share of Pennsylvania’s total economic activity and state expenditures in the region. This information is designed to assist the Metropolitan Caucus in understanding the impact of the region on the state’s economy, revenues, and spending.