CLEARFIELD – The state’s Public Utility Commission has revised the amount of funding some municipalities, including Lawrence Township, will be receiving from the Act 13 impact fee.
Lawrence Township was initially capped at $500,000; however, that amount has increased to $970,000 due to PUC revisions.
After the initial announcement Monday, county leaders were concerned the original number was significantly off. They said municipalities could receive up to $500,000, or 50 percent of its 2011 budget, whichever is higher.
In Lawrence Township, its 2011 budget exceeded $2 million, which meant they were expecting more than $500,000.
Glenn Johnston, Lawrence Township supervisor, told WJAC-TV that he is pleased the PUC made the proper changes.
Johnston added that any kind of funding coming into the township is a positive, but he and other supervisors are aware that they will not be receiving that much every year.
“This, we know for a fact, is going to drop by 50 percent or more next year and maybe lower, because it is attached to the wholesale price of natural gas, which has plummeted in recent times,” he said.
Clearfield County GIS Director, John Kaskan told WJAC-TV that right now, the price of natural gas is around $3.44 per gallon.
However, Kaskan said for most of the year, natural gas has been around $2 per gallon, which is relatively cheap and has slowed down drilling throughout the state. Kaskan said so far this year, only 19 Marcellus Shale wells have been drilled in the county.
Through the impact fee, municipalities will have the option as to how they want to spend the funding. In Lawrence Township, residents are concerned with the lack of law enforcement.
Johnston said that Lawrence Township is one of the largest townships in the state and right now, they only have seven officers who are a mix of full-time and part-time employees.
In the November General Election, residents will vote on a 6 mill tax increase that, if approved, would be used for emergency services, such as the police department.
Johnston said that taxes would increase by 33 percent, but it would allow them to hire an additional three or four police officers.
WJAC-TV asked Johnston if the township planned on using its impact fee funding toward law enforcement, which is an option under Act 13.
He said that they would like to, but with the possibility of the impact fee total changing year after year, they can’t rely on it.
“This isn’t going to be here every year. We won’t spend depending on that. We will spend all of the money for the benefit of the taxpayers, but we won’t spend all of it on something we would say ‘we’re going to be getting that every year, we’re not.'”
Johnston said that the township will definitely look to use its impact fee funding on infrastructure. He said the roads are in need of repairs due to extra traffic from the oil and gas industry.
Johnston admits there are still a lot of decisions to be made with the $970,000 that the township will be receiving, but he said all decisions will be finalized after the township receives the check.
