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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Jesse White |
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White proposes ban on egregious Municipal Authority Board billing practices
HARRISBURG, Jan. 26 – State Rep. Jesse White, D-Washington/Allegheny/Beaver, is introducing a fourth piece of legislation in an ongoing effort to reform operations at local municipal authorities.
White's legislation would prevent municipal authority board members from being compensated for disproportionate work-related expenses beyond their stipend and reasonable travel costs.
"I am introducing this legislation in response to a local problem in which appointed members of local municipal authorities have lined their own pockets through the egregious billing of residents' time," White said.
"While residents in places such as Hanover Township have documented those payments and requested that the state Office of Auditor General intervene, the bottom line is that no language exists under current law to prevent this type of abuse from occurring," White said.
"By definition, these boards should be filled with people who are looking to volunteer their time instead of nickel-and-diming the taxpayers all the way to the bank," he said. "It is unacceptable and must end."
Current law allows municipal authority boards to appoint officers and set compensation, and requires the boards to pay the set amount.
"There is nothing wrong with being compensated for minor expenses, but abuses of this practice must be ended," he said. "I drafted this legislation as part of a package of bills in an effort to bring more openness to municipal authority operations."
Other legislation in White's package of bills includes a bill (H.B. 1716) that would permit the state's auditor general to conduct performance audits of an authority. In addition, H.B. 1717 would address tapping-in fees in excess of $1,000 by requiring authorities to offer to residents an installment payment plan at a fixed rate of interest. He also has introduced a bill (H.B. 1715) that would require the public to be notified when authorities apply for federal and state funding in excess of $1 million.
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