Pennsylvania

How Does Pennsylvania Compare to Other States?

Pennsylvania ranks 41st among US states for its fiscal health, based on its fiscal solvency in five separate categories.

Pennsylvania’s fiscal performance in FY 2013 was weak in several areas according to its financials. The state had just enough cash to cover short-term liabilities and was able cover fiscal year expenses with revenues. On a long-run basis, Pennsylvania’s liabilities accounted for 41 percent of total assets. Unfunded pension liabilities amounted to $153 billion, more than three times the state’s estimates. OPEB was largely unfunded, adding a further $16 billion to the state’s long-term liabilities. 

See “Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition” for a complete explanation of the methodology used to calculate Pennsylvania’s fiscal health rankings. 

1. Pennsylvania ranks 45th in terms of cash solvency.

Cash solvency measures whether a state has enough cash to cover its short-term bills, which include accounts payable, vouchers, warrants, and short-term debt. Pennsylvania’s cash position in FY 2013 indicates the state had available 83 percent of the most liquid cash needed to cover short-term liabilities. The state’s position improved slightly when including less liquid forms of cash, with the state carrying between 1.1 and 1.4 times the cash needed to cover short-term spending. By all measures, Pennsylvania’s cash solvency was well below the national average. 

2. Pennsylvania ranks 39th in terms of budget solvency.

Budget solvency measures whether a state can cover its fiscal year spending out of current revenues. Did it run a shortfall during the year? In FY 2013 Pennsylvania’s operating ratio indicates revenues matched expenses with a slight surplus of $69 per capita. 

3. Pennsylvania ranks 36th in terms of long-run solvency.

Long-run solvency measures whether a state has a hedge against large long-term liabilities. Are there enough assets available to cushion the state from potential shocks or long-term fiscal risks? Pennsylvania’s negative net asset ratio indicates that the state did not have sufficient assets to cover all of its debts. (Net assets are those left over after the government has paid its debts. They are a subset of total assets, which also include capital and government buildings. The net asset ratio measures the total of restricted and unrestricted assets, or net assets, as a portion of total assets.) Long-term liabilities represented 41 percent of total assets. The long-term liability per capita was $1,887, lower than the national average. 

4. Pennsylvania ranks 17th in terms of service-level solvency.

Service-level solvency measures how high taxes, revenues, and spending are when compared to state personal income. Do states have enough “fiscal slack”? If spending commitments demand more revenues, are states in a good position to increase taxes without harming the economy? Is spending high or low relative to the tax base? Pennsylvania’s taxes as a proportion of state income were 5 percent. Total revenues represented 12 percent of state personal income, indicating the state relied on nontax sources to meet expenses. 

5. Pennsylvania ranks 26th in terms of trust fund solvency.

Trust fund solvency measures how much debt a state has. How large are unfunded pension liabilities, other postemployment benefits (OPEB) liabilities, and state debt compared to the state personal income? When calculated on a guaranteed-to-be-paid basis, Pennsylvania’s total unfunded pension liabilities accounted for 26 percent of state personal income in FY 2013. (Pension benefits are recalculated based on a discount rate of 3.38 percent to account for the government’s guarantee to pay employees earned benefits.) OPEB and debt each accounted for 3 percent of state personal income.

State debt 

State debt is calculated from each state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Pennsylvania’s total bonded indebtedness amounted to $17 billion in FY 2013, or $1,348 per capita.

Pension liability 

Pension liability is calculated from each state’s pension actuarial reports. The total unfunded pension liability in Pennsylvania was $153 billion when calculated on a guaranteed-to-be paid basis, more than three times the state’s estimates. 

OPEB liability 

OPEB liability is calculated from each state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Pennsylvania’s unfunded OPEB liability was about $16 billion in FY 2013, which was slightly below the national average as a percentage of state personal income. This liability is only 1 percent funded, leaving the system on a largely pay-as-you-go basis.