State revenues exceed projections

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is getting some good state budget news.

The Revenue Department reported Friday that April revenues exceeded projections by $201 million, or about 5 percent. That pushes the surplus for the first nine months of the fiscal year to $569 million.

It's also about 7 percent more than tax collections a year ago.

Most major tax lines are outstripping estimates for the month and for the year. The biggest gain was a one-time bump in nontax revenues in April resulting mainly from a change in unclaimed property rules. Corporate income-tax revenues are down for the month, but nearly 4 percent above estimates for the year.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is seeking to increase taxes to boost school funding, reduce property taxes and close a projected budget gap.

School retirement chief making $215K

HARRISBURG — The new executive director of Pennsylvania's Public School Employees' Retirement System is collecting a $215,000 annual salary.

PennLive.com reported the pay rate Friday for Glen Grell, who resigned this week from the suburban Harrisburg seat he has held for more than a decade.

The Republican state House member was earning over $85,000 in the Legislature. He's a former member of the pension system board.

He's the new chief executive of America's 20th largest state-sponsored defined benefit public pension fund.