Municipalities, School Districts and Authorities: Overview
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's State Government Relations Group has represented municipalities, school districts and authorities for many decades on matters before the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and United States government. Such entities are not immune to governmental regulation. As a provider of services that assist with mandates from state and federal government, municipalities, school districts and authorities are in constant need of funds to support these regulated programs.
Our government relations professionals have worked with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States Government on a broad range of issues to develop positive solutions for our municipal, school district and authority clients. Teamwork is the hallmark of our approach to client service, and it enables us to serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and in Washington, D.C. Buchanan provides its clients with strategic advice and government consulting services regarding appropriations and substantive legislative efforts. To achieve this, our group works with the legislative and administrative branches of state and federal government.
Additionally, Buchanan consistently raises awareness of client issues; such as financial stability, the impact of proposed legislation and actual outcomes of state and federal regulation. We regularly schedule meetings with key legislators and members of the administration to discuss these legislative and budgetary issues.
Most recently, professionals in our Government Relations Group have been responsible for the following key accomplishments:
- Raising awareness with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources of the unfunded mandates on numerous local municipalities and authorities affected by its Chesapeake Bay Strategy.
- Securing public funding for a municipal authority to address security needs.
- Securing public funding for municipal authority to enhance and continue parking improvements.
- Developing and implementing a strategy to highlight an airport’s role in mitigating aviation congestion.
- Securing a Department of Community and Economic Development revolving loan fund for a small borough.
- Securing a state grant to benefit a local economic development authority.
- For the Pittsburgh School District, obtaining an increase in the school district's 2007-2008 Basic Education appropriation, as well as a special Commonwealth Partnership School District allocation of $4 million through the state Department of Education budget. Also, securing language in an omnibus Public School Code amendment providing the district superintendent with additional administrative authority over management employees.
- Developing the strategy to secure special state appropriations totaling $10 million in the 2006-2007 state fiscal year for the Pittsburgh School District and gaining the enactment of an amendment to the public school code to address the district's fiscal problems and implement the district's "right-sizing" program.
- As a result of the creation of the Accountability Grant Program in the 2004-05 state budget, securing for the Pittsburgh School District approximately $5.7 million in the 2007-2008 state fiscal year from this source.
- Securing an appropriation for the Pittsburgh School District for Special Education Services resulting in a 58 percent increase since 1997. The 2007-08 state special education appropriation to the district is $26,999,000.