BROOKLINE, August 16, 2011 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana today said he plans to amend existing Marcellus Shale impact fee legislation to dedicate a one-third share of the revenue to repair roads and bridges statewide.
Fontana said a dedicated funding stream for transportation projects would create immediate jobs and reduce what taxpayers would need to contribute for badly needed road and bridge improvements.
“Based on projections from even a modest impact fee, a dedicated funding stream towards improving our roads and bridges would create thousands of direct jobs and hundreds more between suppliers and small businesses,” Fontana said. “An impact fee should do just that, make an impact. My proposal is the best way to ensure that such an impact fee prioritizes job creation.
Under the Fontana proposal, the remaining revenue from the impact fee would be divided equally between host municipalities where drilling is occurring and environmental oversight. None of the revenue would go to the state General Fund.
“With the recent reports issued by the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission and the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission, it is clear that the commonwealth has needs related to both industries that could very well be beyond the capacity of Pennsylvania taxpayers,” Fontana said. “My approach takes this into account, while providing job creation.
“The legislature faces many important issues when it reconvenes next month,” Fontana said. “As we discuss and debate all the issues, I am committed to doing everything in my power to ensure that creating and retaining good-paying jobs is part of the solution.”