DeWeese votes for new relief law
State Rep. H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg) recently voted for a new law that he said will help local governments by providing additional money through the state’s Forest Reserves Municipal Financial Relief Law. The new measure increases the allotment paid by the state to each county, township and school district in lieu of taxes to $1.20 per acre from the current 40 cents per acre. DeWeese said this is the program’s first increase since 1995.
The Forest Reserves Municipal Financial Relief Law of 1929 requires the state to pay for acreage acquired for forest reserves, perpetuating original forests, preserving and maintaining public places and parks and land acquired for water conservation or flood prevention, including all state game lands.
“Act 102 will pay excellent dividends in the 50th District,” said DeWeese. “The enactment of this legislation assists local governments because the state has made these lands tax-exempt, so higher payments bring additional dollars that can be put to use as supervisors, commissioners and school boards deem appropriate.”
There are 13,205 acres of state game lands in Greene County, which means $15,846 every year to the county government, $15,846 total divided proportionally among townships each year that have game lands and $15,846 total divided proportionally among school districts each year that have game lands.
Fayette County has 21,966 acres of state game lands, while Washington County has 13,330 acres. DeWeese said that translates into $26,359 for Fayette County government, and the same amount for its school districts, and same amount for its townships; $15,996 for Washington County, school districts and townships accordingly, according to DeWeese.