Posted: | January 13, 2015 09:37 AM |
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From: | Representative Robert W. Godshall |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Former HB 95 Municipal Authority Financial Disclosure |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation which will amend Title 53 (Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act) to bring greater transparency in the financial dealings of municipal authorities to the areas that they serve. This legislation would provide annual disclosure of a municipal authority’s fiscal affairs to not only the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the municipality creating the authority, but also to any municipality served by the authority. Currently, municipal authorities are required to file an annual report of the fiscal affairs with the state DCED and the incorporating authority. This information is submitted on the Annual Report of Municipal Authorities Form (DCED-CLGS-04) provided by the department, along with an annual certified public accountant audit. This measure will ensure openness and accountability of municipal authorities and allow municipalities that receive services to examine the justness and reasonableness of the charges. While municipalities could receive such information pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, annual reports would avoid unnecessary disputes as to disclosure. Furthermore, the closer examination by the municipality receiving service will allow the municipality to analyze whether services are being provided on a discriminatory basis. |
Introduced as HB253