PRINTER'S NO. 1010
No. 76 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY PYLES, APRIL 12, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 18, 1977
In the House of Representatives, April 12, 1977 1 WHEREAS, The ability of local governments to raise adequate 2 revenues is gravely restricted by their limited taxing powers; 3 and 4 WHEREAS, Property taxes, the mainstay of municipal revenues, 5 fail to keep pace with the increasing revenue needs; and 6 WHEREAS, The demands on local government for public services 7 have multiplied in recent years and will continue to grow 8 rapidly; and 9 WHEREAS, State mandated new programs and expanded services 10 have imposed additional financial burdens on municipalities, 11 over which they have no control; and 12 WHEREAS, Local indebtedness has increased substantially 13 during the past decade and will continue to rise; and 14 WHEREAS, The concept of State revenue sharing appears to be a 15 solution to the dilemma presently facing local government; 16 therefore be it 17 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives 18 direct the Local Government Commission to study and investigate
1 the possibilities of a State revenue sharing plan and to 2 recommend legislation if deemed advisable by the commission; and 3 be it further 4 RESOLVED, That the commission may hold hearings, take 5 testimony, and make its investigations at such places as it 6 deems necessary. It may issue subpoenas under the hand and seal 7 of its chairman commanding any person to appear before it and to 8 answer questions touching matters properly being inquired into 9 by the commission and to produce such books, papers, records and 10 documents as the commission deems necessary. Such subpoenas may 11 be served upon any person and shall have the force and effect of 12 subpoenas issued out of the courts of this Commonwealth. Any 13 person who willfully neglects or refuses to testify before the 14 commission or to produce any books, papers, records or 15 documents, shall be subject to the penalties provided by the 16 laws of this Commonwealth in such case. Each member of the 17 commission shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations 18 to witnesses appearing before the commission; and be it further 19 RESOLVED, That within 30 calendar days after the commission 20 has made its report, the chairman of the commission shall cause 21 a record of all expenses incurred by the commission, or the 22 members or staff thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth 23 expense, to be filed with the Speaker of the House and the 24 Speaker shall cause the same to be entered in the journal 25 thereof. No expenses incurred by the commission, or any member 26 or staff thereof, shall be reimbursable by the Chief Clerk 27 unless such expense shall first have been included as an expense 28 item in the record heretofore required; and be it further 29 RESOLVED, That the commission report its findings and 30 proposed legislation, if such be necessary, to the General 19770H0076R1010 - 2 -
1 Assembly as soon as possible. A31L67RLC/19770H0076R1010 - 3 -