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Illinois

* 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 ____ ?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:53 pm

Comments

Illinois is to Pennsylvania as the Lusitania is to the Titanic.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:58 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as spoiled beef is to spoiled chicken.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 12:59 pm
In Arkansas they have a saying: “Thank the Lord for Mississippi.”

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:00 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Brussels Sprouts are to rotting Brussels Sprouts.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:05 pm
As fy16 is to fy17.

Right now bruce probably regrets not having the extra pressure.

Comment by Mason born Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:05 pm
@47th and @OW got there before me lol. Nicely played.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:08 pm
Pot, kettle

Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:13 pm
Pork Chops & Apple Sauce

Comment by Jockey Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:15 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as car on blocks is to car with a blown engine.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:15 pm
Stu Levine is to SuperStars

Comment by Anonin' Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:18 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).

Comment by Name/Nickname/Anon Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:20 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as the Pinto is the Edsel.

Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:24 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as a car wreck is to a train wreck.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:42 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Old Style is to Iron City Beer

Comment by Stones Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:42 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.

Comment by Quiet Sage Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:43 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Lee Van Cleef is to Lee Marvin.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:53 pm
Based on the post,

Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Pennsylvania is to Illinois.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:56 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as new Dartmouth-educated Governor is to new Dartmouth-educated governor?

Hmm …

Comment by ZC Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 1:56 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.

Comment by Jpk77 Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:14 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Bernie Madoff is to Charlie Ponzi.

Comment by Cook County Commoner Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:32 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as loud sucking sound is to louder sucking sound

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:37 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Koch is to ALEC

Comment by illlinifan Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 2:53 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.

Comment by sal-says Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:03 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as the Surveillance Blimp is to the Hindenburg.

Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:10 pm
as Rauner is to an(unnamed body part)

Comment by downstate commissioner Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:39 pm
as chicken pox is to shingles

Comment by ottawa otter Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:54 pm
Illinois is to Pennsylvania as Fairfield is to Gettysburg.

Comment by zatoichi Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 3:57 pm
As a whirlpool is to a black hole.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Oct 30, 15 @ 4:10 pm