Impact Fees

Here's another sign that Gov. Corbett's Marcellus Shale drillers' fee idea isn't ready for prime time: Counties hosting gas drilling rigs may have to wait a year to see their first dollar in revenue from the governor's proposed impact fee. In addition, it looks as if there aren't nearly enough gas-producing wells yet to generate the $120 million that Corbett expects from his levy in the first year. Not only would Harrisburg be letting drillers get off without paying a type of tax imposed by every other major drilling state, but even aid meant to cover gas-related impacts could be undercut.

In a perfect world, Gov. Corbett would not be unalterably opposed to a severance tax on natural gas extracted by the booming Marcellus Shale industry. Pennsylvania would be able to join every other major gas-producing state and collect a modest charge on the value of gas produced. The extra money would help offset the stern budget cuts that he and the Republican-led legislature inflicted on public schools, higher education, and the safety net for the needy. But Corbett is adamantly opposed to a severance tax on shale gas. He has not been persuaded by polls showing strong majorities of Pennsylvanians support it - 69 percent in a June survey by Quinnipiac University.

By Marguerite Quinn When the legislature reconvenes this month, it will consider more than 100 proposals specific to a gas-drilling industry that could drive Pennsylvania's economic recovery and pave the way to energy independence. Most deal with environmental protection. A growing number would impose a tax, fee, or both on the extraction of natural gas. And many are in line with the recent findings of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, which recommended that drillers pay impact fees.

  HARRISBURG - Gov. Corbett's advisory panel on drilling in the Marcellus Shale endorsed a long list of recommendations Friday on how to deal with the burgeoning industry, including imposing a local impact fee - not a tax - on the extraction of natural gas. The 30-member commission also tacitly threw its weight behind the controversial practice of "pooling," which effectively allows a drilling company to force holdout landowners to...

HARRISBURG - Gov. Corbett's Marcellus Shale advisory commission has recommend that Pennsylvania impose an impact fee, rather than a tax, on the extraction of natural gas. The 30-member commission this morning also approved a long list of other recommendations for how to deal with the burgeoning drilling industry, including providing financial incentives for encouraging the use of natural gas. But its decision on whether to have any sort...

When is a fee a tax? When Grover Norquist says so. The Inquirer reported last week that antitax guru Norquist was the wizard behind the Oz-like fiscal contortions of the GOP-controlled Pennsylvania legislature, which has refused to consider raising revenue of any kind. It was Norquist and his D.C.-based group, Americans for Tax Reform, who advanced the "no tax" pledge signed by hundreds of elected officials, including Gov. Corbett and 34 members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

It's encouraging that Gov. Corbett may allow local impact fees on natural-gas drillers, but this potential step only addresses part of the problem. Local communities have incurred significant costs due to the Marcellus Shale drilling boom, including road repairs and added emergency services. The affected towns and counties deserve to be compensated. Corbett said last week that he would "listen" to proposals that address the local impact of drilling. That doesn't mean it will happen, but hooray for listening.

Nine of Bucks County's 10 state representatives are being challenged in this year's election, although the campaigns have been generally overshadowed by the presidential and congressional races. But there are domestic issues - taxes, education and health care high among them - that draw the concern of county voters and divergent responses from the legislative candidates. In the 31st District, Rep. David J. Steil of Lower Makefield, the Republican incumbent, said taxes are high on the list of issues that he hears about from constituents.

Mario J. Calvarese, running a second underdog race against incumbent Chris Ross in the state's 158th House District, says if he can't win, at least he can "help balance the power" by putting an opposition name on the ballot. In the southern and central Chester County district, where Democrat Calvarese lost to Republican Ross by a 2-1 margin in 2002, Calvarese sees his repeat shoestring campaign as his best effort to support the party ticket from the bottom up. "I believe in that," he said.