Sep. 24, 2018
WHAT: The House Finance, Local Government and Urban Affairs committees, chaired respectively by Reps. Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks), Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) and Mark Keller (R-Perry/Cumberland), will hold a joint public hearing on legislation which would allow Harrisburg to exit Act 47 status and retain taxes implemented by the act.
In October 2011, the City of Harrisburg filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. At the time, Harrisburg compiled more than $600 million in debt. Shortly thereafter, Harrisburg entered receivership and the Harrisburg Strong Plan was confirmed by the Commonwealth Court in September 2013. The city has since experienced operating budget surpluses, two fully funded pensions systems and the third pension system that is over 80 percent funded.
WHO: O’Neill, Harper, Keller and members of the committee will hear testimony from the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland), as well as the Local Government Commission of the Pennsylvania General Assembly; former State Rep. Chris Ross, prime sponsor of Act 199 of 2014, which modernized Act 47; Eric Papenfuse, mayor, City of Harrisburg; David Black, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation; Edwin Tichenor, president, Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors; Dave Butcher, president of WCI Partners and secretary of Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID) Board of Directors; Brad Jones, president and CEO, Harristown Enterprises Inc and HDID member; and Marita J. Kelley, recovery coordinator for the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development.
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 9 a.m.
WHERE: Room 140 Main Capitol (Majority Caucus Room)
State Capitol Complex, Harrisburg
LIVE STREAM: Barring any technical difficulties, the hearing will stream live on
RepONeill.com,
KateHarper.net and
RepKeller.com.
Media contact: Abbey Haslam, 717.260.6222,
ahaslam@pahousegop.com