A plan to stop diverting road $$ to Pa. State Police could be a final piece of this year's budget

[FakeNoose]

A plan to stop diverting road dollars to Pa. State Police could be a final piece of this year’s budget

Spotlight PA link: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/08/pennsylvania-state-police-gas-tax-transfers-josh-shapiro-budget/

HARRISBURG — For at least 50 years, Pennsylvania has used taxes drivers pay at the pump to fund its State Police force. But lawmakers are hopeful that the main budget bill passed by the divided Pennsylvania General Assembly and recently signed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is the first step to ending those transfers, which have diverted $8 billion from road and bridge construction in the past decade alone.

The spending plan gives the 6,600-person law enforcement agency an almost 8% budget bump up to $1.6 billion, including paying for almost 400 new troopers. But where those dollars come from has shifted.

Compared to last year, State Police will receive $125 million less from the state’s Motor License Fund, which is the bank account where the commonwealth deposits billions of dollars in annual gas tax revenue along with other vehicle fees. In turn, the agency will get $239 million more from the state’s General Fund, which is the bank account that receives most state income and sales taxes.

For decades, gas tax transfers have helped pay for State Police at the expense of infrastructure projects, said Jason Wagner, managing director of the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association.

- more at link -

Money from here, money from there... I don't understand why the Governor's annual budget can't just have an item called "State Police force funding"?

[BlueIn_W_Pa]

1. Shapiro is trying...

In his first budget proposal as governor, Shapiro suggested moving State Police funding entirely out of the General Fund and creating a walled-off account that can be used only for the agency in the future. He argued it would bring consistency and stability for the agency's needs.

A bipartisan bill that would create the account, known as the Public Safety and Protection Fund, and eliminate gas tax transfers within five years, passed unanimously out of the Democratic-controlled state House Transportation Committee in May. But it hasn’t advanced since then.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Shifting money around is so dishonest for government

They shift money from road construction, but allow counties to add $5 to vehicle registrations for bridge replacement. Don't even mention private for-profit civil engineering. Vehicle registrations have almost doubled in 5 years.

And the legislature gives themselves pay raises.

[FakeNoose]

3. Yes the lying starts in the legislature, not in the governor's office

I realize that.

I believe Gov. Shapiro's intentions are honest, but he's being thwarted by the Repukes in the legislature.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Absolutely. /nt