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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 9, 2020 12:52 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Stephen Kinsey |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Audit County and Municipal Authorities |
| Public assets that our communities across the Commonwealth rely on can be very expensive to operate and maintain, sometimes generating millions of dollars due to debt and increasing rates. These assets can include water, sewage systems, school districts, volunteer firefighter relief associations, public parking facilities, airports, and many other community necessities. Currently, Pennsylvania has roughly 2,000 authorities that manage valuable public assets. Despite these entities receiving significant tax dollars from both state and local governments, they do not fall under the oversight of the Auditor General, who is responsible for auditing important taxpayer-funded entities such as public pension funds, local governments, school districts, and even entire state departments and commissions, but not municipal authorities. Given this issue, I intend to introduce legislation that would transfer the authority from the Attorney General to the Auditor General to audit the books, accounts, records, and performances of any county and municipal authority. This transfer better places the responsibility within the role of the Auditor General and will authorize them to examine local authorities’ accounts. Subsequently, public entities will benefit as this transfer will help deter any potential misuse or misallocation of funds, and will ensure the best use of their resources. Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation that will help responsibly manage and maintain the public assets that are essential to sustain our communities across Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HB871