State Police Fee Legislation
Two bills have been introduced that will have an extremely negative impact on how townships currently receive State Police services.
Click here for more details. |
Sales Tax Proposal Introduced
The Optional County Sales Tax Plan, now renamed the County and Municipal Property Tax Relief and Collaborative Services Act, has been introduced as House Bill 1682 (PN 2123) and referred to the House Appropriations Committee. The bill would allow counties to adopt a 1 percent sales tax, provide an estimated $600 million in county and local government property tax relief and offsets for tax-exempt property, and fund collaborative municipal services.
Click here for more details. |
DEP Develops Sample Outdoor Wood-burning Boiler Ordinance
To assist municipalities that are considering adopting regulations for outdoor wood-burning boilers, DEP has developed a sample outdoor wood-burning boiler ordinance and a fact sheet about these devices. The sample ordinance includes a detailed introduction about outdoor wood-burning boilers.
- Click here for DEP Fact Sheet on Outdoor Wood-Burning Boilers.
- Click here for DEP Sample Outdoor Wood-burning Boiler Ordinance.
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Order PSATS Annual Conference Photos Online!
 Make your time at PSATS’ Annual Educational Conference more than just a memory this year by ordering photographs from the conference and legislative reception online.
To order high-quality 5" x7" prints, 8" x10" prints, or digital files (to be provided by e-mail or on a CD), simply click here: http://www.socphoto.com/psats2009/,
and follow the instructions. |
Township Engineers Association’s Fall Educational Seminar
Click here for details. |
Township Planning Association’s Municipal Planners Educational Seminar
Click here for details. |
CDL Workshops Available
- CDL Drug and Alcohol Testing Supervisory Training
- CDL Records Management |
ACT 32 - Earned Income Tax Collection:
Is Your Township Ready?
By January 2012, earned income tax collection in the commonwealth will look a lot different than it does today. Consolidation is coming, and townships should start planning with their neighbors now to develop a system that works.
-Click here for more details on consolidated EIT collection.
-Click here for the latest Township News update on the issue. |
Archived NATaT Webinar on Federal Funding for Townships
To access this webinar hosted by the National Association of Towns and Townships and learn about federal stimulus and other funding opportunities for your township, click here. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the links provided. |
Make Your Voice Heard in DC: Attend NATaT's 2009 Annual Conference
WHEN: Sept. 9-11
WHERE: Hyatt Regency/Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
WHY: Learn how federal issues affect your township, meet with the policymakers, and network with your peers from other states
Click here for details. |
Governor Unveils State’s Plans for Economic Stimulus Funds
Pennsylvania expects to receive $16 billion for highways, housing, education, infrastructure, and community revitalization under the federal economic stimulus plan.
To learn more, click here. |
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Issues Major Decisions on Uniform Construction Code, Oil and Gas Act
In February, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently issued major decisions dealing with the administration of the Uniform Construction Code and with local government’s authority with respect to oil and gas drilling activities.
Please click here for more information. |
Learn How to Make the Most of Your Parks and Rec Programs
The state's Bureau of Parks and Recreation has more than 30 publications available to help townships learn about and plan recreation spaces and programs for their communities. Click here to view and download these documents.
Click here for details. |
PA's Open Records Law
Townships are subject to a new Right-to-Know Law that governs access to public information.
Click here for details.
Click here to contact the State Office of Open Records |
Updated Record Retention Manual Now Available
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has published a new version of the Municipal Records Manual, which includes a retention schedule for municipal records. Updates include an index and information on CDL and electronic records.
Click here to view or download the document. For more information, contact Susan Hartman, State Archives, at RA-LocalGovernment@state.pa.us or call her at (717) 787-3913.
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IRS Decreases Mileage Rate for 2009
Effective January 1, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service will decrease the standard business mileage rate from 58.5 cents to 55 cents per mile. Township supervisors should establish the 2009 mileage rate by motion at a public meeting. For more information, go to
www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=200505,00.html. |
New Federal Labor Law Poster Available
The U.S. Department of Labor recently updated their Equal Employment Opportunity poster. All employers, including townships, must post the updated poster.
Click here for a copy of the poster. |
NIMS & FEMA Information
Click here for details
Training Information |
2008 PSATS Wage and Salary Survey Results Now Available
The 2008 PSATS Wage and Salary Survey Results were mailed to member townships in the fall of 2008. . For additional copies of the results, township officials should contact PSATS at hfishel@psats.org or by phone at (717) 763-0930.
To view the results now, click here to log-in to the PSATS Members-Only site. |
 Members-Only Area
PSATS Members: Login here for special features - just for you!
Click here to Login
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Studies Look at Role of State's Local Governments
Three studies recently released look at the long-term future of Pennsylvania's communities.
Click here for more information and to view the reports. |
State Planning Board Calls for Changes in Township Governance
Recommendations in a recent report submitted by the State Planning Board to the governor could change the way townships do business. See the report here or read about it in the Pennsylvania Township News. |
The Basic Training Course is now available on CD
 Click here
for more information. For Municipal Tax Collectors - Check
this out. |
Growth, Economic Development, and Local Government Structure in Pennsylvania
Click here for details
(PDF format)
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The Great Debate: Are fewer, bigger governments better?
Pennsylvania has too many local governments, critics say, but a new report written by sprawl and consolidation expert Wendell Cox has found that while Pennsylvania has its demons, local government isn't one of them and residents rather like their system of local governance. Read more about the Cox report and why smaller government is better government in the September cover story of the Pennsylvania Township News.
Click here for details
(PDF format) |
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Now Available Online
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