Major Says Big Returns on Impact Fees Coming Back to Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties
HARRISBURG – Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) joined the governor at a press conference this week to unveil significant funding coming back to county and local governments through the new law generating fees from the state’s natural gas industry.
“The purpose of the impact fee is to make sure our local governments, counties and the state receive the funding needed in order to meet the additional demands placed on them due to the growth and development of the natural gas industry,” said Major. “This funding will be used for everything from infrastructure improvements to first responder training to housing and environmental protection measures. This is only our first year implementing the impact fees and we have already exceeded predictions on revenue collections, which only serve to better equip our communities to provide a better quality of life for local residents.”
A total of $204 million in impact revenue was collected from 58 drilling companies operating in Pennsylvania. This figure far exceeds original estimates for collection in the first year of the newly implemented law.
Under the impact fee distribution formula, 60 percent the money collected will go to counties and municipalities impacted by drilling and 40 percent will go back to the Commonwealth.
According to the figures provided today, Susquehanna County will receive a total of $3,937,702.81 and Wyoming County will receive $881,084.40. In addition, eligible municipalities in Susquehanna County will receive a total of $3,405,050 and eligible municipalities in Wyoming County will receive a total of $1,165,369 (see attached list for breakdown).
Major said counties and municipalities have the option to use the local funds to address a variety of drilling impacts, including preservation and reclamation of water supplies; improvements to local roads and bridges; construction and repair of water and sewer systems; delivery of social services including domestic relations and drug and alcohol treatment; local tax reduction; local affordable housing needs; and assistance for county conservation districts.
The Commonwealth’s share will be used for emergency response planning, training and other activities; water, storm water, and sewer system construction and repair; infrastructure maintenance and repair; as well as statewide environmental initiatives.
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The following is the amount of impact fee revenue coming back to eligible municipalities in the 111th Legislative District:
Susquehanna County
Ararat Township - $47,605.90
Bridgewater Township - $306,108.60
Brooklyn Township - $146,398.14
Choconut Township - $55,178.49
Clifford Township - $144,056.07
Franklin Township - $221,266.60
Gibson Township - $97,951.55
Great Bend Borough - $15,244.47
Great Bend Township - $112,907.26
Hallstead Borough - $25,495.12
Harford Township - $132,576.57
Harmony Township - $53,571
Herrick Township - $65,614.23
Hop Bottom Borough - $14,653.87
Jackson Township - $96,869.62
Lanesboro Borough - $10,787.78
Lathrop Township - $127,160.48
Lenox Township - $332,126.74
Liberty Township - $232,715.38
Montrose Borough - $71,022.76
New Milford Borough - $37,125.96
New Milford Township - $277,232.01
Oakland Borough - $13,649.66
Oakland Township - $31,218.97
Silver Lake Township - $138,406.77
Springville Township - $500,000
Susquehanna Depot Borough - $34,554.60
Thompson Borough - $6,124.55
Thompson Township - $42,801.86
Union Dale Borough - $14,626.44
Wyoming County
Braintrim Township - $30,454.01
Clinton Township - $33,793.02
Falls Township - $22,037.72
Laceyville Borough - $7,422.83
Lemon Township - $63,912.63
Mehoopany Township - $82,761.94
Meshoppen Borough - $9,685.48
Meshoppen Township - $177,594.94
Nicholson Borough - $14,088.30
Nicholson Township - $99,391.12
Overfield Township - $15,237.23
Tunkhannock Borough - $13,364.03
Tunkhannock Township - $103,866
Washington Township - $491,759.96
State Representative Sandra Major
111th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
tlehman@pahousegop.com
717.772.9840