Industry and local leaders gathered this week at an event hosted by the Marcellus Shale Coalition in Alameda Park in Butler, Pa., to discuss how Butler County and the City of Butler have used revenues from the natural gas impact fee.
The event featured remarks from the Butler County Commissioners, state Senator Scott Hutchinson (R-Butler/Clarion/Forest/Venango/Warren), state Representative Marci Mustello (R-Butler), state Representative Jeff Pyle (R-Armstrong/Butler/Indiana), state Representative Jim Marshall (R-Butler/Beaver) and Allegheny Township Supervisor Chuck Stowe.
“Pennsylvania’s tax on natural gas – the impact fee – continues to directly benefit community programs, environmental initiatives, public safety improvements and road upgrades in all sixty-seven counties, with substantial revenues staying right here in Butler County,” Marcellus Shale Coalition President David Spigelmyer said. “This is a sensible policy that works. Governor Wolf’s proposal to triple-tax Pennsylvania energy will hurt our ability to compete for investment, cost jobs, and harm consumers through higher energy costs.”
Butler county and municipal leaders have used more than $40 million in natural gas impact fee revenues for projects to improve local roads, bridges, parks, first-responder services, and other infrastructure and services. Impact tax revenues in Butler County have funded community projects such as the Todd Nature Reserve, Evans City Community Swimming Pool and the Dwelling Place Community Park. The county commissioners have established an infrastructure bank, which helps extend the reach of impact fee revenue by increasing available funding for local infrastructure projects.
“In taking the annual impact fee revenues and establishing an infrastructure bank program, Butler County has created a win-win situation that provides the tools and resources our municipalities need to invest in critical infrastructure improvements,” Chairman of the Butler County Board of Commissioners Leslie Osche said. “The natural gas impact fee is working for Pennsylvania and has made a significant difference in our collective efforts to improve local infrastructure.”
Pennsylvania’s impact fee has generated approximately $1.7 billion in tax revenues since 2012. In 2018, the impact fee generated $252 million, which was distributed to each of the 67 counties in the Commonwealth.
“Butler County is a great example of how impact fee revenues generate a direct positive benefit for families and communities,” Hutchinson said. “Without these proceeds, critical infrastructure projects would be costly for taxpayers and take years to undertake. Governor Wolf’s Restore Pennsylvania proposal is unnecessary as Pennsylvania has a tax on natural gas that’s directly helping every single community across the Commonwealth.”