An April 7th editorial (“Use caution with Wolf’s gas tax proposal”) almost got it right: Governor Wolf’s Restore Pennsylvania plan creates “a triple-tax” on natural gas that will be shouldered by consumers and jeopardize good-paying jobs.
In addition to the taxes required to be paid by every entity doing business in the Commonwealth, the state’s industry-specific impact fee, or tax on natural gas, has proven to be a winning policy solution that empowers county and municipal leaders by keeping the bulk of revenues at the local level, allowing communities to determine how best to allocate their share.
Locally in Lycoming County, the impact fee has funded projects such as the $250,000 County Groundwater Quality Monitoring Program, the $242,837 Williamsport Area School District Stadium Project, and the $180,000 Basin Street/ Susquehanna Riverwalk Connector Project. These meaningful community improvements are among the many impact fee funded projects that have taken place across the state.
The Sun-Gazette’s editorial board has long been supportive of safe, responsible natural gas development, as it’s delivering clean air progress and consumer savings, all while supporting good-paying jobs. But, as the editorial board notes, extra layers of taxation will be detrimental for this progress and threaten opportunities for future growth.
We’ll continue to work with elected officials on solutions to leverage our natural resource abundance for continued economic growth, environmental progress and a brighter future for the entire Commonwealth.
David Spigelmyer
Marcellus Shale Coalition
Pittsburgh
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