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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Jesse White
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Cecil Twp. sewer funding debacle to result in state legislation
HARRISBURG, May 27 – The failure of the Cecil Township Municipal Authority to seek federal or state assistance for the Millers Run sewer project to lower its impact on ratepayers has prompted state Rep. Jesse White, D-Washington/Allegheny/Beaver, to draw up a package of bills that would require municipal authorities to seek such assistance.
Instead of seeking federal or state grants or loans, the township authority chose to finance the Millers Run project entirely through multiple private bond issues, contributing to an astronomical tap-in fee charge to local residents of $6,200, far higher than what many other authorities charge.
White had sought an investigation by state Auditor General Jack Wagner into why Cecil Township decided to forgo any attempt to get federal or state assistance for the Millers Run project, but the auditor general's office is limited by state law from auditing municipal authorities.
White's proposals include a bill that would require municipal authorities to apply for federal and state financing assistance for public works projects of more than $1 million, and a bill that would subject municipal authorities to performance audits and examinations by the state auditor general.
A third bill in the package would require municipal authorities to offer customers an installation payment plan for tap-in fees at a fixed interest rate if the tap-in cost is more than $1,000.
"Unfortunately, the Millers Run project serves as a perfect example of how an authority can take its customers for granted, leave them saddled with outrageous rates while having almost no accountability for its actions or, in this case, its inaction," White said.
"Through the enactment of my proposals, we can make certain this doesn't happen again in Cecil Township or anywhere else in Pennsylvania."
White said he expects to introduce the bills once the House returns to session June 1.
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