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| Weekly Roundup |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
State Budget Finalized
Late last week, the House and Senate sent to the governor’s desk the remaining pieces of the 2017-18 budget package. He has signed all bills, except for the Public School Code.
This includes legislation to protect taxpayers from a broad-based income, sales or utility tax increase this fiscal year, while also generating enough revenue to close out the 2016-17 fiscal year and fully fund the 2017-18 budget year. The package also includes funding for state-related higher education institutions, which include Penn State, Pitt, Lincoln, Temple and the state’s only veterinary school, Penn Vet.
Part of the funding package is based on securitizing the state’s Tobacco Settlement Fund and reforms to the state’s gaming industry, which would include enhancing the state’s Lottery Fund and legalizing many unregulated games in an effort to capture lost revenue. The funding plan also includes transferring $300 million in unspent dollars from special funds with high reserves.
Lawmakers reaffirmed our commitment to quality education by increasing Basic Education Funding for our schools, as well as for early childhood education and special education programs. The Public School Code measure also would protect excellent teachers by ending the practice of seniority-based layoffs and requiring teacher performance to guide furlough and reinstatement decisions.
Ultimately, my colleagues and I fought successfully to pass a spending plan that was much less than what the governor proposed while still investing in the core functions of government without further burdening taxpayers.
We were able to defeat the following proposed new taxes and tax increases the governor wanted:
• Personal Income Tax (PIT) hike.
• Additional severance tax on natural gas.
• A drink tax on alcohol consumed in restaurants.
• A gross receipts tax on natural gas heating bills.
• A tax increase on electricity bills.
• A tax increase on cell phone and home phone bills.
• An additional 5 percent hotel tax, which would have given Philadelphia the highest hotel tax in the nation.
• Expanding the sales tax to business warehousing and logistics companies.
• Expanding the sales tax to information technology services.
• Expanding the sales tax to airline food.
• Expanding the sales tax to aircraft sales.
• Expansion of the insurance premiums tax.
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Anti-Fraud Measure Signed into Law
Legislation to reform the local tax collection system to reduce instances of fraud was signed into law this week.
Act 38 of 2017 prohibits checks made payable to a tax collector’s name only. Under the new law, checks should be made payable to the name of the tax collector along with the office, title or position; or be made out just to the office, title or position and then be deposited into a separate bank account used only for tax money.
Previously, the Local Tax Collection Law did not specify how taxes are to be paid, so it was left to individual tax collectors to determine how they want checks made out for the payment of taxes and to what account the tax money was to be deposited.
Changing how accounts are set up and how checks are written will give municipalities and taxpayers an added layer of protection by ensuring their tax dollars go where they are intended.
Act 38 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2018.
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Use Caution: Deer on the Move
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is reminding motorists to slow down and stay alert for deer on the roadways.
Deer become more active in the autumn with the lead-up to their fall breeding season, commonly referred to as the “rut.” Autumn also sees a number of people taking part in outdoor activities that might flush deer from forested areas or briar thickets, and deer are more actively feeding to store energy for winter months. Add to this the end of daylight saving time, which results in more traffic between dawn and dusk, and the chances of vehicle accidents with deer increase significantly.
In fact, Pennsylvania ranks third nationally in State Farm’s annual report on the likelihood drivers in each state will collide with a deer or other large animal. According to the report, Pennsylvania drivers have a 1-in-63 chance of experiencing a collision with a deer or other large animal – a 6.3 percent increase from 2016.
Drivers can reduce their chances of collisions with deer by staying alert and better understanding deer behavior. Be especially alert in “Deer Crossing” areas, and remember deer tend to travel in family groups, so if you see one deer, more are likely coming.
To report a dead deer for removal from state roads, motorists can call the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at 1-800-FIX-ROAD. If the deer is on a locally owned road, contact the appropriate municipality.
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Nominate a Historical Marker in Your Community
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is encouraging individuals, private organizations, local or county governments and public agencies to nominate historic properties, persons and events of significance on a state or national level for the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program.
The person, place, event or innovation to be marked must have had a significant impact on its times, and have a statewide and/or national, rather than local or regional, historical significance. The significance of the subject must be historically established rather than of contemporary interest.
The annual deadline to nominate is Dec. 1. Click here for all the details, eligibility requirements, nomination form and contact information if you are interested in learning more.
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Turn Those Clocks Back This Weekend
Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, and Pennsylvania residents will be turning their clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.
Experts recommend using this reminder to check or change the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every 10 years, and located near bedrooms and on each level of the residence.
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| Office Locations |
| 300 Old Pond Road, Suite 205A, Bridgeville, PA 15017 | Phone: (412) 221-5110 |
| 200 Senior Way, Burgettstown, PA 15021 I Phone: (724) 947-4471 |
| Room 125B, East Wing, PO Box 202046, Harrisburg PA 17120-2046 | (717) 787-1281 |
| Email: jortitay@pahousegop.com |
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