Government leaders apprised municipal officials about the Marcellus Shale and other issues affecting their communities during the spring meeting of the Lycoming County Association of Townships Wednesday.
Lawmakers such as state Sen. E. Eugene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, noted how the drilling already is impacting the northern part of his legislative district in Bradford County where housing rentals have tripled in the past year and roads used by gas companies are being chewed up.
Yaw made it clear that state Department of Environmental Protection officials are doing a good job in enforcing violations and the companies are restoring roads.
State Rep. Rick Mirabito, D-Williamsport, noted how a severance tax on drilling could help the state reap revenues from the industry. He noted that Texas realized some $2.7 billion in revenues from a severance tax in 2007 alone.
Lycoming County Commissioner Rebecca A. Burke said that the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania has taken no position on a severance tax. However, she noted if such a tax is levied, the revenues need to come back to the communities where drilling occurs.
She agreed that DEP along with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission has done a good job monitoring the drilling.
Yaw struck a pessimistic tone regarding the state budget, predicting that revenue shortfalls of between $800 million and $1 billion will prevent the spending plan once again from getting passed on time.
"There's plenty of issues with money to talk about," he said.
Yaw said while the federal government once again turned back the application by the state Turnpike Commission and state Department of Transportation for Interstate 80 tolls, it means a $472 million hole in the budget.
Susan Mathias, an aide to U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock, said the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway remains the No. 1 transportation issue for the congressman.
She said much needed federal stimulus money is being used to help repair many roads and bridges in the area.
Lycoming County Commissioner Ernie Larson said he's hopeful that the county once again can conduct black fly spraying.
Funds for the program, conducted by DEP, were cut last year, but some dollars may yet come to the county this year.
Fran Jones, county U.S. Census coordinator, reported that households in the county have managed to return 78 percent of census forms mailed to them.
She added that only four municipalities didn't improve on their return rates of 10 years ago, when the last census was conducted.
A total of 30 municipalities had return rates of 80 percent or better.
Hepburn Township's 89 percent rate tops all communities in the county, Jones said.
