The newly-created Independent Fiscal Office launched its website Monday with information about its role in the budget process.
The IFO is a nonpartisan, independent agency created to provide objective and timely analysis to Commonwealth taxpayers and the General Assembly regarding a wide range of economic and budgetary issues.
“The office is very fortunate to have as its first staff members two individuals with extensive experience in a wide range of budget issues,” said IFO Director Matthew Knittel. “These staff will allow the office to fulfill its mandatory budget duties in a timely fashion.”
Mark Ryan comes to the IFO with significant experience in tax and fiscal policy, having served as the executive director of both the Pennsylvania Senate and House Finance Committees. He also supervised revenue forecasting for what is now the Bureau of Research in the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Mr. Ryan holds a M.S. in Public Management and Policy from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University.
Jennifer Boger has extensive experience analyzing state agency budgets, particularly in welfare, corrections, insurance and aging. Most recently she served as a budget advisor to the Pennsylvania Senate Minority Leader, and prior to that she was a long time budget analyst for the Senate Appropriations Committee. Ms. Boger holds a B.S. in Public Policy and a M.P.A. from Pennsylvania State University.
Currently, the office is in the process of seeking individuals to fill its other staff positions.
Once fully staffed and operational, the office plans to release regular monthly and/or quarterly reports on revenues, economic trends at both the national and state level, as well as selected commentary.
The office also has several mandatory duties. These include:
-- Prepare preliminary (due by May 1) and final (due by June 15) revenue estimates for the next fiscal year;
-- Provide an annual assessment of the state's current fiscal condition and a projection of its fiscal condition for the subsequent five years;
-- Organize a revenue estimating conference to discuss the Pennsylvania economy, the national economy and the impact of any economic trends on revenue performance for the budget year and subsequent fiscal year by January 31;
-- Develop performance measures for executive-level programs and departments;
-- Provide an analysis, including economic impact, of all tax and revenue proposals submitted by the Governor or the Office of the Budget;
-- Study and analyze the existing sales and use tax law and propose recommendations for change; and
-- Study and analyze the impact of shared risk pension contributions.
For more information, visit the Independent Fiscal Office website.
