Potter and Elk counties are two of the big winners under
legislation which triples the payment in lieu of taxes on
state-owned land.
The two counties will receive an extra $1.24 million combined,
according to calculations performed at The Era using figures
provided by state Reps. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and Dan
Surra, D-Kersey, through the Pennsylvania Game and Fish and Boat
commissions and the state Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources.
The funding is expected to be released by the state within the
next few weeks and is for state game, forest and park lands.
By far, Potter County is slated to receive the most additional
funding at $713,969.40, according to the documents. Meanwhile, Elk
County is expected to gain an additional $529,996.56 in funding
through forest land under the auspices of the Game Commission and
DCNR.
“I am hopeful that local taxing entities will use this increase
to help offset skyrocketing property taxes in their local
communities,” Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati,
R-Brockway, said.
Legislation, authored by Causer and Scarnati, and approved by
the Legislature last year, hikes the PILT payments by $1.20 an acre
to $3.60 an acre.
Potter County
The Keystone School District, principally Stewardson Township,
stands to gain an additional $104,633.93. Portions of the district
lie within Potter, Clinton and Centre counties.
Meanwhile, the Port Allegany School District has land in
Pleasant Valley and Roulette townships. All told, the district
should garner an additional $22,111.41; Pleasant Valley Township
will receive an extra $10,180.41, while Roulette Township stands to
gain $6,105.60.
In the Austin School District, an additional $307,484.92 should
be forthcoming from the state. Of that figure, Austin Borough is
slated to receive $825.60; Keating Township, $28,372.37; Portage
Township, $66,043.78; Sylvania Township, $35,466.80; and Wharton
Township, $176,776.37.
The Coudersport Area School District will gain $116,924.13. Of
that, Coudersport Borough, Ward 2, will gain $14.88; Eulalia
Township, $3,990; Hebron Township, $13,303.29; Homer Township,
$33,222; Summit Township, $51,128.47; and Sweden Township,
$15,265.49.
A total of $115,553.09 in funding will go to the Galeton Area
School District. Broken down, Abbott Township will garner
$51,062.40; Galeton Borough, Ward 1, $1.25; Pike Township,
$16,799.49; and West Branch Township, $47,689.95.
In the Northern Potter School District, an additional $47,657.93
is slated to be set aside. Of that figure, Bingham Township will
realize $10.25; Genesee Township, $5.76; and Ulysses Township,
$47,641.92.
Lastly, the Oswayo Valley School District will garner $5,429.37,
including $2,455.20 for Clara Township and $2,974.17 for Oswayo
Township.
Elk County
The Forest Area School District is slated to receive $4,294.80
under the $3.60 an acre payment; Johnsonburg Area School District,
$30,782.93; Kane Area School District, $18,247.68; Ridgway Area
School District, $123,263.38; and St. Marys Area School District,
$89,136.86.
Broken down further, Benezette Township should gain a total of
$183,926.62 between Game Commission and DCNR land combined; Fox
Township, $30,817.28 from Game Commission land; Horton Township,
$20,281.36; Jay Township, $27,125.02; Jones Township, $138,255.38,
all from Game Commission and DCNR land combined;
City of St. Marys, $58,920.12, Highland Township, $18,247.68,
Millstone Township, $4,294.80, Ridgway Township, $45,294.67, and
Spring Creek Township, $58,718.41; all the figures were for Game
Commission land.
