In preparation for his February 5 Budget Address, Gov. Rendell this week said Pennsylvanians who want to know how their tax dollars are being used can find answers in the first Governor’s Report on State Performance.

The report describes work of 25 state agencies and offices, during the 2006-07 fiscal year, that oversee vital services in education, economic and community development, health and human services, consumer protection, the environment, public safety, infrastructure and managing state government.

“Pennsylvania taxpayers have a right to know how the Commonwealth spends their hard-earned tax dollars,” Gov. Rendell said. “This report provides those crucial answers. It shows we are making progress, but we have more work to do.

The report highlighted the Rendell Administration’s accomplishments in promoting renewable energy, saying: in 2004, Gov. Rendell revived the long-dormant Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority and the authority has provided $32.2 million in grants and loans to 81 clean energy projects that are leveraging another $362 million in private investment. Recipients of PEDA grants and loans made in 2006-07 are implementing projects that will eliminate pollution and help meet the state’s electricity needs.

The report also highlighted the environmental project funding made available by the $625 million Growing Greener II bond issue.

Accomplishments by the Department of Environmental Protection were grouped into several major agency objectives for 2006-07:

· Limit exposure to unsafe levels of air pollutants;

· Protect water quality and enhance Pennsylvania’s watersheds and wetlands;

· Encourage waste reduction, reuse, recycling and safe waste disposal, and restore contaminated land;

· Promote policies and initiatives that foster a climate of environmentally sound, sustained economic growth and transform environmental threats and community eyesores into areas of growth;

· Reduce mining accidents;

· Provide for dams that protect life, property and the environment; and

· Promote clean energy innovation and lessen the nation’s dependence on foreign fuels.

Performance measures used to chart the results of environmental spending from 2004-05 to 2006-07 showed an increase in the percentage of population in counties attaining the ozone standard, an increase in municipal waste recycled, an increase in advanced energy development, an increase in acres of abandoned mines reclaimed, an increase in population served by water systems meeting drinking water standards and an increase in breeding areas treated to control West Nile Virus.

Performance measures showing a decrease included acres of stream buffers installed and brownfield cleanups.

The report noted DEP’s 2006-07 budget was $672.1 million and its authorized complement is 3,076. DEP’s budget in 2002-03 was $728.2 million and its authorized complement was 3,211.

Accomplishments for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources were grouped into these categories:

· Improve stewardship and management of state parks and forests;

· Promote statewide land conservation;

· Create outdoor connections for citizens and visitors; and

· Build and maintain sustainable and attractive communities.

Performance measures for DCNR between 2004-05 and 2006-07 included an increase in State Park attendance, an increase in land conservation and an increase in attendance for environmental education programs.

DCNR’s 2006-07 budget was $363.4 million and authorized complement is 1,407. In 2002-03 DCNR’s budget was $322.9 million and authorized complement 1,391.

The Governor’s Report on State Performance is available online.

NewsClip: Rendell Assesses His Own Administration’s Performance

1/25/2008