Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

Posted:	January 11, 2023 10:29 AM
From:	Senator David G. Argall
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Supporting the County Demolition Funding Program

In 2016, Act 152 was signed into law which allows counties to add a fee up to $15 for the demolition of blighted properties. Since this program was established, 24 counties have voluntarily joined the program which has raised millions of dollars to tear down dilapidated buildings. Every single dollar raised remained in the county where it originated, as required by law. Last session, we approved legislation to make this program permanent after witnessing the clear evidence of its effectiveness. Many old, rat-infested buildings which decreased surrounding property values and were a danger to communities have been demolished. In order to continue the progress we have made, I will introduce legislation to increase the maximum allowable fee that can be collected by counties by $1 and permit yearly adjustments for inflation, again, at the discretion of each county. Due to inflation, the $15 fee now only brings a fraction of the benefits to the community today which it did in 2016. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to continue our long fight against blight.
View Attachment

Introduced as SB517