The long awaited 2020 Census population results were recently released with Pennsylvania having a final population of count of 13,002,700 people, a 2.4 percent increase from 2010 and is now ranked as the 5th largest state in the country. Of…
Reminder: Townships Required to Post Agendas 24 Hours Before Meetings
Beginning August 29, Act 65 of 2021 will require all township boards and commissions to post agendas on a website, if they have one, and at the township building and meeting place at least 24 hours before the meeting. Action items may…
Pennsylvania Redistricting Commission Changes How to Count Prisoners
Pennsylvania’s Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 3-2 yesterday to count prisoners in the municipalities in which they lived immediately prior to sentencing. The U.S. Census Bureau requires counting prisoners where they are physically located. This state change will only apply to…
IFO Releases Natural Gas, Labor Market Reports
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) has released new reports on natural gas production and the labor market. The Natural Gas Production Report for the second quarter shows a growth in output of 7.8%, the strongest in two years. The Labor…
Reminder: Make Sure Harrisburg Doesn’t Consider Merging Local Governments!
Township officials are reminded that the Center for Rural Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Local Government Commission, both legislative agencies of the state General Assembly, are conducting a short demographic survey of elected local officials. This is a great place to define the value of local government! Survey responses are due…
FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first COVID-19 vaccine under the normal review and approval process. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now approved for individuals 16 years of age and older and will be marketed as Comirnaty….
FEMA Offers Hazard Mitigation Grants
Funding notices are now available for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants, which provide funds to states for eligible hazard mitigation activities. Municipalities may apply through their state hazard mitigation officer. Applications will be…
Governor Requires State Employees to Wear Masks Indoors
Effective August 23, all commonwealth employees and contracted staff in commonwealth work locations are required to wear a mask indoors regardless of their vaccination status. Visitors are encouraged to wear masks but are not required to do so.
Office of Open Records to Hold Free Training Tomorrow on Sunshine Law
The Office of Open Records (OOR) will hold a free webinar on the Right-to-Know Law for Law Enforcement tomorrow, August 25, at 10 a.m. The training will focus on those aspects of the Right-to-Know Law that are specific to police departments, such as…
ARPA Municipal Payments Total Nearly $479.8 Million
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced that the eighth batch of payments under the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery program has been sent to qualifying Pennsylvania municipalities. Disbursements made this week include payments to 30 municipalities totaling $2 million….
