Pennsylvania HR 527: A Resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive study of the operating revenues, expenditures and balance sheet for service years 2023 and 2024 of all municipal authorities and municipalities which operate municipal separate storm sewer system facilities in this Commonwealth.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3412
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 527
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY COOPER, KUZMA, PUGH, BOROWSKI, ROWE, GILLEN AND
T. JONES, MAY 14, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 14, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a comprehensive study of the operating revenues,
expenditures and balance sheet for service years 2023 and
2024 of all municipal authorities and municipalities which
operate municipal separate storm sewer system facilities in
this Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Federal Law requires that municipalities and other
entities such as universities and prisons that meet certain
criteria must obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System permit coverage for discharges of storm water from their
municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s); and
WHEREAS, These mandates have resulted in fees to cover the
costs of implementation, which vary across this Commonwealth;
and
WHEREAS, Fees are a financial hardship for many residents and
businesses across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly urgently needs reliable and
complete information on the operations and finances of Municipal
Separate Storm Water System facilities in this Commonwealth to
enable such facilities to be financed under State law on an
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appropriate, fair and predictable basis; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
issue a report based on a comprehensive and independent survey
and analysis of the operating revenues, expenditures and balance
sheet for service years 2023 and 2024 of all municipal
authorities and municipalities which operate municipal separate
storm sewer system facilities in this Commonwealth; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
issue the report based on a survey and analysis conducted by a
professor of economics and public policy who is also a fellow of
the National Academy of Public Administration, has a Ph.D. in
economics, is employed by a university in a county of the second
class and is selected by the Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the survey examine the following:
(1) The method of accounting used by regulated MS4s.
(2) The total number of full-time and part-time
employees for each regulated MS4.
(3) Revenues and composition of the regulated MS4s.
(4) Expenses and composition of the regulated MS4s.
(5) The amount of outstanding debt of the regulated
MS4s, including the term of the debt, repayment provisions
and any guarantees provided to the lender.
(6) The amounts of intergovernmental transfers of MS4
facilities, including a characterization of intergovernmental
transfers by source to MS4 operations from parent identified
organizations, including public authorities, municipalities
or consortium of municipalities and transfers of real estate
taxes and other money to finance MS4s.
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(7) The current mechanisms of financing in terms of
classes of MS4 payees, fee schedules and amounts collected
from each class;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
issue a report with findings and recommendations based on the
survey to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Local
Government Committee of the House of Representatives and post
the report on the committee's publicly accessible Internet
website within one year of the adoption of this resolution.
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