Rendell unveils Web site to track stimulus spending

On Wednesday, Governor Ed Rendell announced plans to ensure accountability for the distribution of $16 billion that Pennsylvania will receive from the federal economic stimulus package. Gov. Rendell unveiled a new Web site to track how funds are spent, recovery.pa.gov, and said he would appoint a Chief Accountability Officer to oversee the process.
“The Web site we’re unveiling today provides a window to this process for everyone to see. The public will be able to track how every dime is spent and for what project and where. We’re committed to making this an open process for everyone,” Rendell said in a press release.
According to the release, citizens will be able to track expenditures that will be updated quarterly and provide input on how funds are invested. A sample template on the Web site shows that individual projects will be tracked by county, and provide details such as completion status, location, project schedule, dollar value of contracts, contractors, and the number of jobs created and saved. The site will be linked to Pennsylvania’s accounting system.


Rendell estimates that of $9.8 billion set aside for Pennsylvania’s state and local agencies, $5.8 billion will be spent this year, as reported by the Associated Press. Of the $9.8 billion, the site breaks down how the funds will be spent in the commonwealth:

• Health Care – $4 billion
• Education – $2.56 billion
• Transportation Infrastructure – $1.4 billion
• Energy Independence – $472 million
• Other Infrastructure & Housing – $361 million
• Job Training & Other Relief for Pennsylvanians – $1.1 billion, including:
  • $425 million for Job Training/Unemployment Services
  • $347 million for State Budget Relief
  • $120 million for Crime Fighting/Victim Services
  • $116 million for Targeted Assistance to Pennsylvania Families
  • $82 million for Child Care and Head Start

The site also estimates how the economic stimulus could directly benefit citizens in Philadelphia.

• Tax relief: Individuals earning up to $75,000 will receive a $400 tax credit in 2009 and 2010, and married couples filing jointly and earning $150,000 will receive $800. 506,941 individuals and households will likely qualify for the tax credits.
• Unemployment compensation – 23,800 unemployed persons in Philadelphia who qualified for unemployment compensation at the beginning of the year will receive a $25 per week increase in unemployment benefits, along with the possibility of additional benefits through the rest of the year.
• Health insurance for unemployed – Health care will be made available to individuals who are involuntarily separated from their jobs between September 2008 and January 2010. COBRA will pay 65 percent of the monthly premium for individuals earning less than $145,000 and couples earning less than $290,000. The provision could benefit 53,900 unemployed persons in Philadelphia.
• Health insurance – 478,885 low income children and adults can continue to receive health care through the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance program. Federal support will also help 28,881 children and teens in Philadelphia who are not eligible for Medical Assistance.
• Food assistance – 355,219 low income individuals and families could potentially be given a 13.69 percent increase in the maximum Food Stamp benefit, effective in April 2009. Provisions also suspends the 3-month limit on assistance for many unemployed childless adults for the next 18 months.