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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	June 21, 2016 01:04 PM
From:	Representative Jaret Gibbons
To:	All House members
Subject:	Flexibility of Act 44 Unused County Allocations

In the near future, I will be introducing legislation amending Act 44 of 2007 to allow counties greater flexibility in the use of their bridge and highway maintenance allocation under the Act. Section 9915.3 of Act 44 establishes provisions regarding fund allocations. Each fiscal year allocates $5 million for county-owned bridges and roads. For municipal roads and bridges pursuant to the allocation currently established under the Liquid Fuels Tax law (Act 655 of 1955) $30 million is allocated per year. At a recent Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) meeting, a commissioner stated that Lawrence County had approximately $700,000 in unused allocations given to them under Act 44 for bridge and road maintenance. Since the county’s bridges are in great shape and they have no county roads to maintain, the idea was floated to use the excess allocation for municipal roads and bridge maintenance. The only problem: under existing law, this is not an allowable use of the funds. My legislation will address this issue by allowing any county that receives an Act 44 allocation to use any remaining funds to assist their municipalities through a grant program. After that, if funds are still left over, the balance would be carried over into the next fiscal year. Given the many challenges facing our cities, towns and boroughs, being able to have a reliable source of funding to provide safe and well maintained roads and bridges is one less stress factor on their general fund. I hope you will join me in support of this legislation.

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