PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 278 PRINTER'S NO. 1988
No. 249 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY SOLOBAY, BALDWIN, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BUNT,
CAPPELLI, CAWLEY, CORRIGAN, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DERMODY,
DeWEESE, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HUTCHINSON,
KOTIK, LAUGHLIN, PRESTON, SHANER, STABACK, TANGRETTI, THOMAS,
TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, WALKO, WANSACZ, WASHINGTON, WOJNAROSKI,
YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, BARRAR, SCRIMENTI, MELIO, COSTA,
HORSEY, LEVDANSKY, GERGELY, PALLONE, PAYNE AND WILT,
FEBRUARY 11, 2003
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JUNE 10, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), entitled
2 "An act concerning townships of the first class; amending,
3 revising, consolidating, and changing the law relating
4 thereto," further providing for tax levies.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Clauses two and seven of section 1709(a) of the
8 act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), known as The First
9 Class Township Code, reenacted and amended May 27, 1949
10 (P.L.1955, No.569) and amended December 17, 1990 (P.L.744,
11 No.186), are amended to read:
12 Section 1709. Tax Levies.--(a) The board of township
13 commissioners may levy taxes upon all property and upon all
14 occupations within the township made taxable for township
15 purposes, as ascertained by the valuation for county purposes
1 made by the assessors of the several counties of this
2 Commonwealth for the year for which the township taxes are
3 levied, for the purposes and at the rate hereinafter specified:
4 Provided, however, That such valuation shall be subject to
5 correction by the county commissioners of the several counties,
6 and to appeal by the taxable persons in accordance with existing
7 laws.
8 * * *
9 Two. (i) An annual tax not exceeding three mills for the
10 purpose of building and maintaining suitable places for the <--
11 housing of fire apparatus and for the purpose of purchasing,
12 maintaining and operating fire apparatus and for the purposes of
13 making of appropriations to fire companies within or without the
14 township and of contracting with adjacent municipalities or
15 volunteer fire companies therein for fire protection. PURPOSE <--
16 OF:
17 (A) BUILDING AND MAINTAINING SUITABLE PLACES FOR THE HOUSING
18 OF FIRE APPARATUS [AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF];
19 (B) PURCHASING, MAINTAINING AND OPERATING FIRE APPARATUS
20 [AND FOR THE PURPOSES OF];
21 (C) MAKING OF APPROPRIATIONS TO FIRE COMPANIES WITHIN OR
22 WITHOUT THE TOWNSHIP [AND OF];
23 (D) CONTRACTING WITH ADJACENT MUNICIPALITIES OR VOLUNTEER
24 FIRE COMPANIES THEREIN FOR FIRE PROTECTION[.];
25 (E) THE TRAINING OF FIRE PERSONNEL AND PAYMENTS TO FIRE
26 TRAINING SCHOOLS AND CENTERS;
27 (F) THE PURCHASE OF LAND UPON WHICH TO ERECT A FIRE HOUSE;
28 AND
29 (G) THE ERECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF A FIRE HOUSE OR FIRE
30 TRAINING SCHOOL AND CENTER.
20030H0249B1988 - 2 -
1 (ii) The township may appropriate up to one-half, but not to
2 exceed one mill, of the revenue generated from a tax under this
3 clause for the purpose of paying salaries, benefits or other
4 compensation of fire suppression employes of the township or a
5 fire company serving the township.
6 (iii) If an annual tax for the purposes specified in this
7 clause is proposed to be set at a level higher than three mills
8 the question shall be submitted to the voters of the township,
9 and the county board of elections shall frame the question in
10 accordance with the election laws of the Commonwealth for
11 submission to the voters of the township.
12 * * *
13 Seven. (i) An annual tax not exceeding one-half mill for
14 the purpose of supporting ambulance [and], rescue [squads] and
15 other emergency services serving the township, except as
16 provided in subsection (c).
17 (ii) The township may appropriate up to one-half of the
18 revenue generated from a tax under this clause for the purpose
19 of paying salaries, benefits or other compensation of employes
20 of an ambulance, rescue or other emergency service serving the
21 township.
22 * * *
23 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
A17L73JAM/20030H0249B1988 - 3 -