Governor makes Harford stop

BY STACI WILSON

Governor Tom Corbett stands by Pennsylvania’s Act 13 as impact fee dollars come back to the counties and municipalities where natural gas drilling takes place.

In a Saturday stop in Harford, Corbett addressed the issue at the Susquehanna County Republicans’ fall rally.

The governor said Act 13 funds distributed by the Public Utility Commission has had a tremendous impact on the regions most effected by Marcellus Shale drilling operations.

“We do tax the companies,” Corbett said, listing corporate, personal, and sales taxes paid to the state. Corbett noted that Texas, which has a severance tax, does not have a personal income or sales tax.

He also said gubernatorial challenger Tom Wolfe’s severance tax plan would reduce drilling in the region.
Corbett also pointed to job creation by the industry in the area. He said that there are over 20,000 employment openings for CDL drivers in the state.

Susquehanna County Commissioner Michael Giangrieco spoke to the packed audience at the Harford Fire Hall about what the county has done with its share of Act 13 funds.

Giangrieco said many residents don’t understand the “significance (Act 13 funds) have had on the Susquehanna County economy.”

The second term county commissioner said structural and technological improvements have been made to the courthouse complex; and property owners have seen a two mill credit on their tax bills for the past three years as a result of the Impact Fee.

He also said the funding has enabled the county to tackle its own underfunded pension. While Act 13 monies are not directly used for the county pension, revenue for other items – such as the building upgrades, several programs, etc – have allowed the commissioners to move the pension into a more solvent position.

“Had we not had Act 13, that shortfall would have fallen onto the backs of the county taxpayers,” Giangrieco said.

He said he expected the county’s pension to be fully funded by the end of next year.

Corbett also addressed other state issues, such as education funding, transportation, the state pension crisis and the privatization of alcohol sales.