Question of the day
Friday, Oct 30, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Things can always be worse. There’s Pennsylvania, for instance…
Though Illinois’ ongoing budget impasse is a credit negative for local governments, things are far worse in a state with similar problems. Moody’s investors services says Pennsylvania is experiencing similar issues during their ongoing budget impasse as Illinois but with a greater impact on local governments and schools.
A report from the investors service says school districts in Illinois are receiving most state aid but in Pennsylvania similar fund distributions are not being made which negatively affects local governments’ budgets. The report also says that community colleges and 4-year public universities are adversely affected in both states. In Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed the appropriations measure for K-12 school funding, but no appropriation for higher education has been passed and approved. Moody’s downgraded six public universities in Illinois Tuesday.
* Moody’s…
State aid for Pennsylvania school districts constitutes 10%-83% of operating revenues, and many schools already face financial pressure from charter schools and rising pension costs. Although Pennsylvania schools received their property taxes in September, districts more dependent on state aid are now relying on cash reserves and short-term borrowing to keep the doors open and pay fixed obligations. As of September, 17 school districts and two intermediate units instructing 169,000 students in the state have borrowed more than $346 million and face a combined $11.2 million in interest fees on these loans. Philadelphia School District (Ba3/negative) alone comprises $275 million of the borrowing, according to the state auditor general.
* The Question: Illinois is to Pennsylvania as ____ is to ____ ?
- 47th Ward - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:58 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as the Lusitania is to the Titanic.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:59 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as spoiled beef is to spoiled chicken.
- lake county democrat - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:00 pm:
In Arkansas they have a saying: “Thank the Lord for Mississippi.”
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Brussels Sprouts are to rotting Brussels Sprouts.
- Mason born - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
As fy16 is to fy17.
Right now bruce probably regrets not having the extra pressure.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
@47th and @OW got there before me lol. Nicely played.
- Vote Quimby! - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:13 pm:
Pot, kettle
- Jockey - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:15 pm:
Pork Chops & Apple Sauce
- Huh? - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:15 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as car on blocks is to car with a blown engine.
- Anonin' - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
Stu Levine is to SuperStars
- Name/Nickname/Anon - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
Having spent considerable time in both states, I would say Illinois is to Pennsylvania as white-tailed deer is to white-tailed dear (it being the state animal in both).
- Dome Gnome - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as the Pinto is the Edsel.
- RNUG - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:42 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as a car wreck is to a train wreck.
- Stones - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:42 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Old Style is to Iron City Beer
- Quiet Sage - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
Illinois is to flip as Pennsylvania is to flop. Flip-flop situation in Pennsylvania: Democratic Governor (Tom Wolf) beat Republican incumbent (Tom Corbett) in 2014 election. Both Houses of the Pennsylvania legislature have Republican majorities.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:53 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Lee Van Cleef is to Lee Marvin.
- the Other Anonymous - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:56 pm:
Based on the post,
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Pennsylvania is to Illinois.
- ZC - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:56 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as new Dartmouth-educated Governor is to new Dartmouth-educated governor?
Hmm …
- Jpk77 - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:14 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as an ungodly amount of local government is to a somewhat less than ungodly amount of local government.
Obviously, thousands and thousands of local taxing bodies aren’t solely responsible for the budget mess both states are in. But, it is interesting they both rank one and two in terms of local government.
- Cook County Commoner - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Bernie Madoff is to Charlie Ponzi.
- JS Mill - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:37 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as loud sucking sound is to louder sucking sound
- illlinifan - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:53 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Koch is to ALEC
- sal-says - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:03 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as hell is to Shangri La ?
We don’t live there; we live here. Worse is a ‘degree of’ condition.
- Dome Gnome - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:10 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as the Surveillance Blimp is to the Hindenburg.
- downstate commissioner - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:39 pm:
as Rauner is to an(unnamed body part)
- ottawa otter - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:54 pm:
as chicken pox is to shingles
- zatoichi - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:57 pm:
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Fairfield is to Gettysburg.
- Wensicia - Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:10 pm:
As a whirlpool is to a black hole.