The U.S. Post Office will increase the cost of first class stamps from 78 cents to 82 cents, effective Sunday, July 12. This means that the price of stamps has doubled since 2007. Other mail services products will increase by…
Turnpike Approves 2027 Toll Hike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission approved a toll increase for January 2027 of 3.5%. Those with E-Z Pass will see rates increase from 7.3 to 7.5 cents per mile, plus $1.13 to $1.17 for every overhead gantry a driver passes. Those who don’t have…
DEP Proposes Permit Updates for Wastewater Plant to Remove PFOS, PFAS from Biosolids for Land Application
Last week, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) proposed two permit updates that would require wastewater treatment facilities to monitor PFOS and PFOA in any biosolids that they produce for land application. The intent is to remove these “forever” chemicals from biosolids to prevent pollution of farm…
Townships Receiving Storm Damage Should Report to County EMC
This weekend, 64 of 67 Pennsylvania counties experienced damage due to storms, and some remain without power. Flooding, as well as downed trees and powerlines, made many local and state roads impassable. Assessments are now being completed to determine the level of damage, as eligibility for federal and state programs are based on countywide damage. If…
Get Customizable Salary Insights Now with the PSATS Salary Survey
Thanks to township input, data entry and report access have been streamlined in the PSATS Salary Survey Plus tool, and participating townships can access results year-round! Salary Survey reports are a real-time compilation of the latest entries. If you participated in 2025, your previous answers have…
PA Drought Task Force Moves Four Counties from Watch to Warning
Last week, the Commonwealth Drought Task Force met and moved four southeastern counties from drought watch into drought warning status: Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, and Lehigh. Drought declarations are based on an analysis of stream flow, groundwater levels, precipitation, and soil moisture….
Reminder: PCCD Accepting Public Safety Grant Applications Until 7/14
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency announced over $8 million in federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) for innovative approaches addressing persistent and emerging public safety needs, as well as for strengthening public safety data infrastructure and expanding PCCD’s research and…
Pitt Graduate Student Initiative Seeks Interested Townships
Professor Nicholas Croce at the University of Pittsburgh is seeking interested townships for a Townships & Technologies initiative. Townships will be paired with graduate students from the School of Public and International Affairs to work on specific challenges related to technology…
Commonwealth Revenue Ends Fiscal Year Above Estimates
The commonwealth ended the 2025-2026 fiscal year with revenues above projections. According to the Independent Fiscal Office, the overage was $1 billion or 2.1% over projections. Compared to the prior fiscal year, collections were $2.52 billion higher. Sales and use tax collections were $293 million, or 1.9% over projections…
House Approves Resolution Recognizing Pennsylvania’s Role in America’s Founding
This week, the state House of Representatives unanimously approved HR 576, which recognizes important events on the historic 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and Pennsylvania’s vital role in this event. The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and was first published by a newspaper and had its…
