PA Legislative Surplus Hits New High of $299 Million Amid Budget Stalemate

Copyright@ Eric Epstein & Rock the Capital

Pennsylvania taxpayers should be deeply concerned about what is happening in our government. The Legislative Audit Advisory Commission (LAAC) presents itself as a beacon of openness and transparency, but the reality tells a different story. Critical data remains conspicuously absent from public view. Meanwhile, meaningful public participation is an illusion—citizens are only permitted to weigh in after decisions have already been made, and LAAC continues to withhold the actual audit from public scrutiny.

Below is what YOU should know, Rock the Capital's testimony. You can also view Rock the Capital's Right-to-Know request to and final response from LAAC HERE.

Testimony Re: “Statement of Financial Affairs of the General Assembly: Year Ended June 30, 2024.” Submitted on September 24, 2025.

Legislative Surplus Hits New High Amid Budget Stalemate - $299 Million; Senate Republicans Fail to Keep Promises for An Independent Audit and A Reduction in the Legislative Surplus.

On February 4, 2025, the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission (“LAAC”) convened a 12 minute “public hearing,” but provided no opportunity for public comment. In addition, the LAAC refused to announce the size of the legislative surplus or to release the Audit they approved. (1)

The cost to run the legislature ballooned from $533,572 million in 2005 to $738,731 million 2024. That’s an increase of $205,159 even though during that period there were 13 late budgets.

The “reserve” cushion set a new record - $299 million. Both parties sprinted to rubber stamp the annual “audit.”

The hearing is usually buried in the basement of the Irvis Building, and scheduled the day of Governor Shapiro’s Address.

The 12-minute sprint undermined Senate Republicans’ commitment to be budget hawks. The bloated surplus was pinned against the Republican commitment to seek an independent audit and reduce the $299 million surplus.

The reason for the surplus is a fiction that no longer exists: There is no threat that the legislature will be starved out during a budget impasse, i.e., Fillman v. Rendell, (December 28, 2009). To the contrary, the legislature and their staff receive pay and benefits regardless of the timing of the budget’s passage.

Senator Joe Pittman, the Republican Majority Leader, said “We have more in reserve than we need to, and we need to figure out how to properly spend that down.” (February 14, 2024)

Senator Kim Ward, President Pro Tempore, appeared on “This Week in Pennsylvania” on February 18, 2024. Senator Ward said, “I agree with Mr. Epstein. We should have an independent audit of our surplus.” (2)

Enclosed please find a “Summary of Surplus Trends” and “Irregularities and Non-Compliance.”

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1. On February 4, 2025, the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission (“LAAC”) convened a 12 minute “public hearing,” but provided no opportunity for public comment. In addition, the LAAC refused to announce the size of the legislative surplus or to release the Audit they approved.

   
   

   After the February 6, 2024 hearing, Representative George Dunbar (R -Westmoreland), the former head of the LAAC, said the surplus was $298 million. This was an increase from $261 million. Dennis Owens of WHTM 27 asked if the amount of the surplus was appropriate. Mr. Dunabr said, “That’s a little excessive.”

2. There was no independent audit or reduction in the surplus despite commitments made by Mr. Pittman and Ms. Ward. The log of calls and visits RTC made to both Senators and Mr. Sanchez is available upon request. RTC made 27 calls and office visits.

   
   

   In the only conversation with Mr. Sanchez, the Committee Chairman, RTC requested an opportunity for public comment, an independent audit, and the publication of the Audit’s recommendations. He did not follow up.

Summary of Surplus Trends

• Expenditures:

2021: $417,709 (3)

2022: $419,549

2023: $438,858

• Legislative surplus:

2021: $233,636

2022: $261,481

2023: $298,569

• Pension obligations:

2021: $ 49,602

2022: $ 49,486

2023: $ 51,898

• Post-Retirement Obligations

2021: $ 1,290,184

2022: $ 1,125,019

2023: $ 940,786

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3. The 13 legislative service agencies – which include the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, the Capitol Preservation Committee and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission – ended the year with $107.4 million in reserve - which is an increase from $101.9 million in reserve in 2022. The agencies currently have $69 million in reserves.

Rock the Capital’s Recommendations: Irregularities and Non-Compliance

Historically, the legislature has ignored most of the observations and recommendations made by the Commission’s certified public accountants. The Commission does not allow public input on how the legislature spends its surplus during its annual hearing.

Since at least 2008, the auditor hired to report on the surplus has recommended that the Legislature consider adopting a policy that establishes and monitors the appropriate amount of surplus, i.e., floors and ceilings. In the past, House and Senate Democratic and Republican caucuses both agreed the legislative surplus should be capped, but they have not reached an agreement on where it should be set.

The legislature uses a cash basis form of accounting. Accrual accounting gives a better indication of business performance because it shows when income and expenses occurred.

The legislature’s cash basis method of accounting does not reflect actual balances at any given moment. Cash basis accounting records revenue and expenses when cash related to those transactions actually is received or dispensed. “Accordingly, the accompanying financial statement is not intended to present changes in net position in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.” (4)

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4. Notes to the Financial Statement

Note 1. Nature of Activities and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation: The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prepares its financial statement on the budgetary basis of accounting, which approximates the cash basis of accounting modified for appropriations and certain commitments as discussed in Note 4. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statement is not intended to present changes in net position in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Rock the Capital has collected recommendations made by auditors, legislators, regulators, and concerned citizens since 2006. We hope that the LAAC will strive to implement the following recommendations.

1) The legislature rarely implemented the Auditor’s Recommendations. The LAAC eliminated the Auditor’s Recommendations in Fiscal Year, 2002 and Fiscal Year, 2023.

The Commission should reinstitute the practice of publishing the Auditor’s recommendations.

2) The Commission should implement a protocol for capping the legislative surplus per Senator Pittman’s suggestion.

3) The Audit should disclose the nature and amount of any findings of irregularities and improprieties.

4) The Audit should also provide descriptions of large, unusual, and/or inappropriate sums disbursed by use of the “advance appropriation method.”

5) The Legislature has failed to implement recommendations made by the Commission's contracted CPA firms to consolidate House checking accounts. In the past, Auditors have recommended reducing the number of accounts to defeat the “...opportunity for errors to be committed...”

There is no reason to postpone consolidation and standardization of the accounts.

6) Throughout the Legislature, employees aren’t required to itemize expenses they paid for with a credit card when they get reimbursed. A standard and uniform policy of itemized expenses accounting needs to be implemented.

7) In light of the matters disclosed and discussed in the Footnotes of previous Audited Financial Statements, it is obvious that the information presented is not useful from the standpoint of informing either the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission, members of the General Assembly, or the public as to the nature, appropriateness or efficacy of significant expenditures of tax dollars.

The Commission should implement a protocol that utilizes meaningful descriptions as to the nature of the amounts disbursed as well as the deficits in OPEB and pension liabilities.

8) The LAAC should incorporate meaningful classifications of expenditures by easily understandable expense classifications. The audited financial statements and related information should provide sufficient detail and clarity about expenditures for citizens to learn with reasonable certainty what activities are being conducted by the General Assembly and the appropriateness of such activities.

9) The Commission should adhere to Senator Ward’s recommendation for an independent audit. The Audit should include a forensic audit of all leadership accounts, including but not limited to “advance appropriation disbursement accounts” under the direct or indirect control of the legislative leaders of the General Assembly, the Chief Clerk of the House and Senate, and/or their respective staff or other representatives.

10) The Commission should adopt and implement an opportunity period for public comment and public testimony at its next public meeting.

Clearly, the annual expenditures of the General Assembly are of vital interest to the public. Citizens have the right to know the nature and amount of all expenditures of their taxes, and that such expenditures advance legitimate public interests. Thank you for your attention to this request. We look forward to your prompt reply. (5)

Sincerely,

Eric Epstein, Coordinator

Rock the Capital

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5. End notes

• The House leadership accounts are flush p. 5 and p. 12. Cutler has 2x as Bradford on reserve. $97,410 million to $41,822 million.

• The LAAC received $285,000 and is holding $1.1 million.

• Note 4: Pension Obligations continue to grow.

• Page 22: Big numbers for leases, payroll and “services.” $40 million, $330 million, and $15,516 million.