Post by melody on Apr 4, 2014 17:43:24 GMT -5
Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
MEDIA STATEMENT
April 4, 2014
Contact: Chris Lilienthal, 717-255-7156 or 717-829-4823, lilienthal@pennbpc.org
Statement: Pa.'s Natural Gas Impact Fee Significantly Lower Than Severance Taxes in Most Gas-Producing States
HARRISBURG, PA (April 4, 2014) – Sharon Ward, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, issued the following statement in response to the announcement of natural gas impact fee revenue collected by the state:
“Pennsylvania’s natural gas companies have something to celebrate today, a natural gas impact fee that is significantly lower than what they pay in other gas-producing states. For Pennsylvania residents, today’s announcement is just a reminder that we are shortchanged by the failure of our elected leaders to enact an adequate severance tax.
“Pennsylvania's General Fund tax revenue is once again falling behind official estimates, leaving desperately needed new funding for public schools, libraries, and health care programs in jeopardy. An adequate severance tax would support these program and prevent the state from having to open up new public lands to gas drilling, as Governor Corbett has proposed.
“Earlier this month we called on the Governors of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to adopt a common severance tax no lower than West Virginia’s 5 percent rate, and we reiterate that call today. This reasonable rate would take taxes out of the competitive equation, eliminate any distortion widely varying tax rates might cause, and help provide sustained funding for state priorities, all with little overall impact on the industry.”
Click here to read the letter that the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center sent along with Policy Matters Ohio and the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy to the governors of their three states.
MEDIA STATEMENT
April 4, 2014
Contact: Chris Lilienthal, 717-255-7156 or 717-829-4823, lilienthal@pennbpc.org
Statement: Pa.'s Natural Gas Impact Fee Significantly Lower Than Severance Taxes in Most Gas-Producing States
HARRISBURG, PA (April 4, 2014) – Sharon Ward, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, issued the following statement in response to the announcement of natural gas impact fee revenue collected by the state:
“Pennsylvania’s natural gas companies have something to celebrate today, a natural gas impact fee that is significantly lower than what they pay in other gas-producing states. For Pennsylvania residents, today’s announcement is just a reminder that we are shortchanged by the failure of our elected leaders to enact an adequate severance tax.
“Pennsylvania's General Fund tax revenue is once again falling behind official estimates, leaving desperately needed new funding for public schools, libraries, and health care programs in jeopardy. An adequate severance tax would support these program and prevent the state from having to open up new public lands to gas drilling, as Governor Corbett has proposed.
“Earlier this month we called on the Governors of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to adopt a common severance tax no lower than West Virginia’s 5 percent rate, and we reiterate that call today. This reasonable rate would take taxes out of the competitive equation, eliminate any distortion widely varying tax rates might cause, and help provide sustained funding for state priorities, all with little overall impact on the industry.”
Click here to read the letter that the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center sent along with Policy Matters Ohio and the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy to the governors of their three states.