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STATE SENATOR INTRODUCES BILL TO STRENGTHEN DOWNTOWN LOCATION LAW
According to press releases, State Senator David Argall (R-Schuylkill) recently introduced SB 1201, which would the amend the the current Downtown Location Law that encourages state agencies to locate new offices in central business districts. The proposed bill would require the PA Department of General Services (DGS) to coordinate with local public and private sector community revitalization organizations when deciding on a location for any state agency office. Along with providing for new levels of cooperation, this bill will strengthen DGS |
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BILLS INTRODUCED TO ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES TO RECIEVE REVENUES
FROM TAX-EMEPT PROPERTIES
State Rep. Tim Solobay (D-Washington) and State Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) have introduced legislation (HB 2192 and SB 1175) that would allow municipalities and cities to enact an essential services fee on tax-exempt organizations that own property within their boundaries. If passed, the bills would give municipalities the option of continuing with existing voluntary agreements with tax-exempt properties, or to impose a fee of not more than 25 percent of what the tax would be on the assessed value of the properties. |
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UPDATE ON FEES FOR STATE POLICE COVERAGE
A recent news article from the Pottsville Republican has noted that the debate over whether local municipalities without their own police departments should pay a fee for law enforcement protection from state troopers remains an important issue for the state legislature. According to the news report, Governor Rendell just recently indicated that issue isn't going away. A measure introduced by State Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), HB 1500, would apply a per capita fee to some 1,700 municipalities without police departments, about two-thirds of the total number of municipalities statewide. Under the measure, municipalities that rely solely on the state police would pay an annual per capita fee of $156. Municipalities that fall below a mandated level of local patrol services would pay an annual per capita fee of $52. These fees would be phased in during a three-year period. The bill has no population threshold. The legislation has made some headway, winning approval from the House State Government Committee last July, and is before the House Appropriations Committee. The fee debate comes as a growing number of financially strapped municipalities are disbanding their police departments and asking the state police to handle patrol duties and respond to crimes.
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