In order to save the funding for historic preservation, farmland preservation, conservation (parks), and libraries (to name a few), please contact your state representative and asked them to vote NO on House Bill 2004.
Preservation PA’s Statement:
“Preservation Pennsylvania has been monitoring the business in the House and HB 2004 was not considered on Wednesday, May 20. It will be carried forward to the agenda for May 26. There is still time to reach out to your PA legislator and urge them to vote “NO” on HB 2004 which would strip Keystone grant funding that is a valuable tool for preservation, parks, libraries and more all across Pennsylvania. (Note: for those confused by the terminology, “taken off the table” means the bill is active. “Laid on the table” means it has been tabled for later discussion.)”
Representative Jason Oritaty, Allegheny & Washington Counties (parts), is the Prime Sponsor of HB 2004. Co-Sponsors are Seth GROVE, Francis RYAN, Stephen BARRAR, Rob KAUFFMAN, R. Lee JAMES, Dawn KEEFER, Dan MOUL, Aaron BERNSTINE and Barbara GLEIM.
Please Contact your representative and ask them to VOTE NO on HB 2004.
Bill Summary
The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund Act (Act 50 of 1993) established the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (fund), which provides funding for grant programs for the acquisition, improvement and expansion of parks, recreation facilities, historic sites, zoos, public libraries, nature preserves and wildlife habitats.
The money in the fund, which comes from a monthly deposit of 15% of the Realty Transfer Tax collections, is distributed to the grant programs according to an allocation schedule that has remained unchanged since 1993.
The first bill would repeal the Act’s static allocation schedule and instead require that the General Assembly annually appropriate money in the fund among the grant programs. This proposal would not alter the monthly deposits into the fund or which programs may be funded.
We should not assume that the spending priorities that the Legislature set in 1993 still reflect the needs of our constituents in 2019. Choosing funding priorities for the Commonwealth, particularly for grant programs, should be set by the General Assembly each year.
Around Cumberland County, Pennsylvania 