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Support For Conservation Districts, Taxing Gas Holdings Among County Priorities For 2011
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County leaders from throughout Pennsylvania this week unveiled a list of ten key county government priorities for 2011 that call on state lawmakers to partner with counties for efficient delivery of important services to state residents.
Among the priorities were funding for transportation infrastructure, restoring the ability to assess oil and gas as real property, strengthening conservation districts’ relationship with DEP, increasing oil and gas pipeline safety and continuing investments in farmland preservation.
County leaders were in Harrisburg at the state capitol to not only unveil the list of priorities, but to also acknowledge that counties understand it will be another difficult budget year for all levels of government.
“Our goals are ambitious, as we do recognize that this will be another difficult budget year at all levels,” Mark Hamilton, Tioga County commissioner and 2011 president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania said. “However, we must emphasize the key message central to all of our priorities: Funding cuts at the state level do not automatically equate to cost savings for local taxpayers.”
Hamilton said the priorities reflect a consensus of Pennsylvania’s county governments on issues of highest significance and greatest potential impact to counties and their taxpayers.
“Counties’ legislative priorities for 2011 represent our proactive agenda that we will work to advance. They clearly demonstrate county officials’ commitment to improve tax equity for local residents and our desire to improve government efficiency. Counties seek real cost savings and will work to assure that funding decisions made at the state level do not adversely impact local taxpayers,” Hamilton said.
The counties’ top priority is mandate relief, designed to seek reprieve from state mandates that are unnecessary or outdated.
“Outdated and unnecessary mandates and statutory provisions create additional costs and divert taxpayer dollars from their most effective use,” Hamilton explained. “Our mandate relief priority list is about finding more cost-effective ways to do business and to maximize the use of today’s very limited public dollars for programs and services to our residents. Counties very much understand the taxpayers’ desire to assure tax dollars are used judiciously and in the best manner possible.”
Hamilton also discussed counties’ sensitivity to the ongoing effects of the recession and concerns related to the Commonwealth budget for fiscal year 2011-2012.
Hamilton noted that county officials are actively engaged in the public debate on a broad range of issues and seek to be part of the solutions that will ensure limited resources are being used effectively and best address the needs of local communities.
“We are extending a hand in partnership. County governments stand ready to work with the General Assembly and the Corbett administration to empower county officials to maintain programs and services in the face of budget cuts and identify areas where cost savings can be achieved,” Hamilton concluded.
A complete list of priorities is available online.
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2/21/2011 |
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