Services

The Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL) serves the state government, counties, municipalities, school districts, authorities, councils of governments, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, foundations, civic groups, and other nonprofit organizations from its principal offices in Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. PEL’s Central Division Office in Wilkes-Barre covers 40 counties.

PEL gives its clients the FACTS  by …

  • Framing the issue and problem
  • Analyzing pertinent data & options
  • Calculating cost-benefits
  • Tracing the consequences of action and failure to act
  • Suggesting an action plan

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PEL’s professional staff, which totals 45 statewide, has considerable experience in working with all types of governmental units and agencies in Pennsylvania, as well as with civic groups and nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Many staff members have served in management positions in the public sector and on public authorities, governmental commissions, or advisory boards. PEL’s professional staff, which totals 45 statewide, has considerable experience in working with all types of governmental units and agencies in Pennsylvania, as well as with civic groups and nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Many staff members have served in management positions in the public sector and on public authorities, governmental commissions, or advisory boards.

PEL can provide high quality and varied services at affordable rates because it is a nonprofit organization.

PEL was founded in 1936 to bring sound management practices to Pennsylvania’s state and local governments. PEL is committed to working with political, business, and civic leaders to raise the effectiveness of government, improve the state’s economy, and encourage economic development, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.

Financial Planning (Client List)

  • examining current and future financial condition
  • projecting revenues and expenditures
  • evaluating the impact of state legislation
  • identifying options for improving fiscal health, including serving as state-appointed Act 47 Recovery Plan Coordinator for many of state’s distressed municipalities

Budgeting and Fiscal Management (Client List)

  • developing sound budget policies and processes
  • developing and improving accounting control, and reporting systems
  • estimating the yield of tax and other revenue sources
  • evaluating fees and service charges
  • estimating the cost of revenue-producing activities
  • determining the effectiveness of tax collection systems

Productivity Measurement / Benchmarking (Client List)

  • measuring program effectiveness, including input and output, per-unit costs, and comparative costs developing benchmarks on performance, outcomes, results, and competitiveness engaging in ‘best practices’ exercises establishing goals and monitoring/measurement systems

Labor Relations  (Client List)

  • costing-out contract proposals, comparing salaries and benefits, and assessing ability to pay helping prepare for and serving as “expert witness” at arbitration and fact-finding hearings

Human Resources Personnel Management (Client List)

  • drafting employee policies and procedures manuals and employee handbooks developing position classification plans conducting salary surveys and developing pay plans evaluating and comparing salary and benefit programs assisting employers comply with pertinent mandates providing various other personnel management assistance, including relevant training

School District Enrollments and Facilities  (Click for a Sample Enrollment Study outline)

  • examining demographic and community growth patterns and projecting enrollments district wide and by attendance areas assessing building capacities and current and future utilization based on enrollment projections.

Public Safety Services (Client List)

  • helping ensure that volunteer fire departments deliver an appropriate level of protection in the most cost-effective manner identifying opportunities to improve the delivery and quality of municipal fire, police, and emergency medical services assessing the feasibility of merging public safety activities and regional services

Organization, Management and Operations  (Client List)

  • evaluating organizational structures, management processes, and operations identifying opportunities to improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and productivity of services and operations guiding Act 62 government study commissions, drafting home rule charters, developing administrative codes, and estimating the financial effects of change

Service Delivery Options

  • determining the cost benefits, advantages and disadvantages, and feasibility of cooperative arrangements, contracting /outsourcing, privatization, and/or consolidation of services structuring these types of arrangements evaluating proposals to consolidate or merge units of government, including school districts

Community and Economic Development

  • determining economic or positive tax impact of activities or proposed projects evaluating infrastructure investment priorities developing strategic and economic development plans analyzing incentive packages and abatement programs

The Pennsylvania Economy League (PEL) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization; it is not an agency of the Commonwealth. PEL has been providing research, advice, and technical assistance on a wide range of governmental and related issues for more than 60 years. These efforts have resulted in improved decision-making by government and other officials and have helped get greater mileage out of each tax dollar.

PEL’s staff of analysts and problem solvers provides comprehensive research and technical assistance on virtually every aspect of government. PEL can address general public policy issues and governmental programs affecting broad areas such as a region or the state, as well as the specific challenges of individual jurisdictions and organizations. PEL also provides quick turnaround “troubleshooting” research for those with urgent problems and can serve as a facilitator or consensus-builder to produce positive results.

PEL’s assistance is provided in a behind-the-scenes, nonpartisan fashion which enables our staff to develop productive, long-term relationships with public officials and administrators and also with the leadership of the private and nonprofit sectors.

PEL’s Role is to give elected and appointed state and local government officials, managers in nonprofit and civic agencies, and private sector leaders engaged in public policy issues the information they need to make sound decisions. PEL’s approach is to provide research that is independent, impartial, accurate, reliable, and lives up to its high standards for integrity.

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