April 3, 2018

PA Slot Machine Revenue Up 5.4 Percent In March Over Last Year

The PA Gaming Control Board Tuesday reported March slot machine gaming revenue rose 5.4 percent over revenue generated in March of 2017.
The combined gross revenue from slot machines in March of this year was $221,350,220 compared to last March's revenue of $209,984,147.  The increase was the largest percentage jump in month over month slot machine gross revenue since February 2016.
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Tuesday PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

AP: Wolf Fundraising Leaves Him With $14.7 Million Cash On Hand
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April 2, 2018

March State Revenues $274.2 Million Less Than Anticipated, Still 0.9% Above Estimates For Fiscal Year

Pennsylvania collected $4.3 billion in General Fund revenue in March, which was $274.2 million, or 6 percent, less than anticipated, Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell reported Monday.
Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $25.3 billion, which is $221.7 million, or 0.9 percent, above estimate.
The Independent Fiscal Office also reported Monday March revenues were $121 million or 2.7 percent below its revenue estimates and for the Fiscal Year General Fund revenues are $498 million or 2 percent above the IFO’s updated official estimate.
A House Republican Appropriations Committee March Economic Brief released Monday agreed with the Department of Revenue’s numbers.
Revenue Department
March corporation tax revenue was $2.2 billion, $121.4 million below estimate. Year-to-date corporation tax collections total $3.7 billion, which is $151.9 million, or 3.9 percent, below estimate.
Corporate net income tax (CNIT) for the month was $135 million below estimate. The department expects that part of this shortfall could be made up in May when annual CNIT payments are due.
For the other corporation taxes, gross receipts tax was $80.2 million below estimate. Financial institutions taxes — which includes bank shares and mutual thrift institutions taxes — and insurance premiums tax were $95.2 million above estimate.
Sales tax receipts totaled $787.1 million for March, $9 million below estimate. Year-to-date sales tax collections total $7.6 billion, which is $13.4 million, or 0.2 percent, less than anticipated.
Personal income tax (PIT) revenue in March was $1.1 billion, $23.1 million below estimate. This brings year-to-date PIT collections to $9.3 billion, which is $115.1 million, or 1.3 percent, above estimate.
Inheritance tax revenue for the month was $89.5 million, $14.7 million below estimate, bringing the year-to-date total to $718.7 million, which is $16.9 million, or 2.3 percent, below estimate.
Realty transfer tax revenue was $40.3 million for March, $5.7 million above estimate, bringing the fiscal-year total to $374.8 million, which is $4.2 million, or 1.1 percent, more than anticipated.
Other General Fund tax revenue, including cigarette, malt beverage, liquor and gaming taxes, totaled $70.2 million for the month, $14.2 million below estimate. That brings the year-to-date total to $1.3 billion, which is $18.3 million, or 1.4 percent, below estimate.
Non-tax revenue, which includes gaming fees, is $97.4 million below estimate for the month. The revenue estimate included $70 million from iGaming license fees, which are now expected to be received in fiscal year 2018-19.
In addition, a winter storm required the auction of a Category 4 license to be rescheduled for April 4, 2018. Collections through February from the Category 4 licenses were $84.5 million above estimate.
In addition to the General Fund collections, the Motor License Fund received $191.1 million for the month, $41.6 million below estimate. Fiscal year-to-date collections for the fund — which include the commonly known gas and diesel taxes, as well as other license, fine and fee revenues — total $2.1 billion, which is $11.7 million, or 0.5 percent, above estimate.

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PA Dept. Of State Invites Bids On New Paper Record Voting Systems

The Department of State Monday announced it will take the next step toward modernizing Pennsylvania's elections by issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) to voting system firms.
"This IFB marks the beginning of the Commonwealth's transition to state-of-the-art voting equipment," Acting Secretary Robert Torres said. "The new requirements will ensure that our voting systems will provide enhanced standards of resiliency, auditability, and security for Pennsylvania citizens."
The IFB includes requirements for increased documentation, security and reporting capabilities. It follows a February directive the department sent to counties that all voting systems purchased from February 9 forward must employ a voter-verifiable paper ballot or voter-verifiable paper record of votes cast by the voter.
It also reinforces enhanced standards for security, including physical security, confidentiality, data encryption, audit logging, and reporting.
The IFB updates an existing state-negotiated agreement with vendors and can be used by counties to purchase voter-verifiable voting systems that meet the department's requirements for certification.
Douglas Hill, executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, welcomed the move.
"Today's announcement gives counties guidance they need as they prepare to replace voting equipment," Hill said. "The work by the Department of State to accelerate certification of equipment means that counties will have available to them the latest technology that satisfies accessibility and security concerns and better enables participation by our voters."
The department is notifying vendors that they should not plan to renew contracts in 2019. Instead, they should move to the updated agreement if they are interested in providing voting systems in Pennsylvania.
Any voting system purchased from this date forward must meet the requirements of the IFB.
Counties will continue receiving maintenance and training under existing contracts until they procure new voting equipment.

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Gaming Control Board Annual Report On Casino Gaming's Impact On PA Horse Racing Industry

The Gaming Control Board Monday released the Annual Racetrack Casino Benchmark Report detailing the impact of Pennsylvania casinos on the Commonwealth’s horse racing industry.
The report includes and compares information from the 2017 calendar year.
Among the report’s findings is that the tax generated by the play of slot machines amount to $239 million and was earmarked for enhancements of race purses, assisting breeding operations located in Pennsylvania, providing health and pension benefits for horsemen, and to support agricultural initiatives.
The report also shows that total dollars wagered on live races held at the six racetracks operating in the Commonwealth was up 3 percent in 2017, exceeding $700 million.
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Monday PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

John Baer: PA’s Political Moment, Reason For Hope Or Just A Show?
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April 1, 2018

Sunday PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

Editorial: 4 Changes We Need In Harrisburg Lawmakers
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