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
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1 Assembly as soon as possible.
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