FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Rep. Bob Freeman                  D-Northampton
www.pahouse.com/Freeman

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

Freeman to hold hearing in Easton on tax-exempt properties bill

 

EASTON, Feb. 14 – State Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, chairman of the House Local Government Committee, will hold a committee hearing on his tax-exempt properties legislation at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Easton City Hall in city council chambers.

 

House Bill 2018, known as the Tax Exempt Property Municipal Assistance Fund, would provide state funding to municipalities to compensate them for high levels of tax-exempt property.

 

“Municipalities with high percentages of tax-exempt properties are at a fiscal disadvantage which makes them unable to meet essential needs in their communities," Freeman said. "The funding this measure calls for would help these municipalities gain a greater degree of fiscal stability to provide essential services and help position them to attract much-needed economic development."

 

Media coverage is invited.

 

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The agenda for the hearing is as follows:

 

1 p.m. Welcome and Introduction: Rep. Robert L. Freeman, chairman

 

1:10 p.m. Pennsylvania Economy League: Stephen Stetler, executive director, state office; Gerry Cross, executive director, central division

 

1:30 p.m. City of Easton: Salvatore J. Panto, mayor

 

1:50 p.m. City of Bethlehem: John Callahan, mayor

 

2:10 p.m. Break

 

2:30 p.m. City of Allentown: Ed Pawlowski, mayor

 

2:50 p.m. Fountain Hill Borough: Randy Soriano, executive administrator

 

3:10 p.m. Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley Inc.: Alan Jennings, executive director

 

3:30 p.m. Additional Questions/Closing Remarks: Rep. Robert L. Freeman, chairman