Apr 30, 2006 3 min read

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Legislative Liaison Joseph J. Neville today urged the House of Representatives to either amend or reject Senate Bill 868, which, if enacted, would triple the agency’s annual payment in lieu of tax (PILT) to more than $5.1 million. “The Game Commission already pays counties, municipalities and school districts in which State Game Lands are located more than $1.7 million,” Neville said. “As the Game Commission doesn’t receive any state taxpayer dollars, that means the entire PILT payment comes directly from hunters and trappers license dollars and only from hunters and trappers.

“Pennsylvania hunters and trappers also pay state taxes that are used to cover the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources PILT for state forest and state parks. So, in essence, hunters and trappers pay twice, while other taxpayers only pay once.”

Neville noted that all Pennsylvanians can use State Game Lands, which are set aside for the protection and propagation of the state’s wildlife and for public hunting and trapping opportunities.

Neville noted that a growing number of organizations have called for new streams of revenue to fund Pennsylvania’s wildlife management programs. Additionally, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, in reports issued in 2003 and 2006, noted that the Game Commission’s ability to implement important programs and projects outlined in the agency’s Strategic Plan are stymied by a lack of sufficient revenues. License increases must be approved by the Legislature.

“While we recognize the need to provide additional sources of revenue to counties, municipalities and school districts in rural areas, we would urge the House to consider amendments to Senate Bill 868, such as those proposed by Rep. David K. Levdansky in House Bill 2499, the overall budget bill, which would direct that all PILT’s for State Game Lands be paid from the state’s General Fund and not the agency’s limited Game Fund,” Neville said. “Another option would be to return to the original intent of Act 71 of 2004, and direct that the increased PILT be paid from State Gaming Fund revenues.”

“In order to cover expenses for the first two months of the fiscal year, before revenues are recognized, the agency needs about $14 million,” Neville said. “The increase in salaries and benefits as set by state contract for the fiscal year 2006-07 is approximately $2.8 million. If Senate Bill 868 passes, it will cost the Game Commission an increase in excess of $3.4 million. This leaves a balance of approximately $800,000 in the Game Fund Reserve. This would be the lowest reserve balance in decades and the fiscal solvency of the agency would be in jeopardy.”

Neville also noted that any increase in the PILT would force the agency to consider making further cuts in programs and projects that the agency provides, such as: cuts in habitat improvement projects on State Game Lands; additional reductions in the pheasant stocking program; elimination or reductions in wildlife education programs conducted in public schools or for other public groups; and reductions in agency wildlife research, conservation and protection efforts.

“In order to maintain a balanced budget in light of the growing need for increased revenues, we already have almost 10 percent of our available positions vacant, which is impacting our ability to provide services to the public,” Neville noted. “By increasing our PILT to $5.1 million, more services that hunters, trappers and the general public have come to expect from the agency will be put at jeopardy. We urge the House to either amend or reject Senate Bill 868.”