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Who We Are

Steering Committee:

Paul Heimel, Commissioner, Potter County (Chairman)

Pete Smeltz, Commissioner, Clinton County (Vice Chair)

Phil Jones, Commissioner, Cameron County (Vice Chair)

Tony Mussare, Commissioner, Lycoming County

Will Hunt, GIS Director, Potter County

Jerome Sasala, Superintendent, Austin Area School District

Partners/Supporters:

County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors

Pennsylvania State School Boards Association

Pennsylvania State Association of Rural and Small Schools

Pennsylvania Landowners Association

Pennsylvania Forest Products Association

Pennsylvania State Grange

Success!

JULY 14, 2016 - Governor Tom Wolf has signed into law a 67-percent increase of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) for state forest and park lands. It’s contained in Fiscal Code amendments passed by the legislature as part of the 2016-17 budget approval.

Success?

JULY 5, 2016 - Pennsylvania's legislature moved forward last week with a 66.6% increase in the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes for state forest and park land. School districts, counties and municipalities currently receiving $1.20 per acre annually would receive $2.00 per acre annually under the new formula (Pa. Game Commission and Fish & Boat Commission acreage would continue to yield the $1.20 per acre).

Beat goes on

JUNE 24, 2016 - As negotiations continue on the 2016-17 state budget, the Pa. State Land Tax Fairness Coalition has been busy building support for its cause. Steering Committee members are meeting with leaders of the Pa. School Boards Assn. and the Pa. State Assn. of Township Supervisors. We’ve also recently made our case with the Pa. Assn. of Realtors and are seeking its support.

Word is spreading

JUNE 10, 2016 - Newspapers, radio stations and internet-based information services have given our coalition significant attention in recent weeks, spreading awareness of the impact local governments are feeling due to the high volume of tax-exempt state land. Coalition leaders have also been contacting the seven statewide organizations that support the cause and asking them to become more involved.

'Pa.'s Playground?'

MAY 18, 2016 A widely circulated northcentral Pennsylvania newspaper recently spotlighted our coalition's campaign. Here's the article appearing in the May 14 edition of Endeavor News:

Back on track

MAY 2, 2016 Members of the Pa. State Land Tax Fairness Coalition met via conference call on Friday, April 29. Listed below are some of the highlights and action items:

More support?

APRIL 20, 2016 - Another statewide organization is being asked to get onboard with the Pennsylvania State Land Tax Fairness Coalition. Leadership of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors has been approached about supporting our mission. The issue was aired this week during a meeting of the Northcentral Pa. Board of Realtors.

Face-to-face

APRIL 13, 2016 - Coalition leaders are holding meetings with several members of the Pa. General Assembly this week, seeking some clarity on how to proceed. Among those who have agreed to meet with the coalition is Representative John Maher (left), chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Let's talk!

APRIL 8, 2016 – Coalition members should watch their email for an invitation to a conference call to plot strategies in seeking support for higher payments-in-lieu-of-taxes payments for state-owned land.

Two more allies

FEB. 22, 2016 Pennsylvania State Land Tax Fairness Coalition has added two more statewide organizations to its list of supporters. The Pennsylvania Landowners Association (PLA) and the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association have both endorsed the coalition's campaign for higher payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) for tax-exempt state forest, park and game lands.

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Who We Are