Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

2019-2020 Regular Session
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Repealing State Restrictions on Compensation for Local Officials
October 18, 2019 11:40 AM to All Senate Members
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Photo of Senator Senator Daylin Leach
Senator Daylin Leach
D Senate District 17
Memo
Soon I will introduce legislation to repeal all state restrictions on compensation for local officials.
 
Pennsylvania has 2,560 municipalities. These municipalities are further categorized into different classes of counties, boroughs, townships and cities, all of which operate pursuant to different state laws. Embedded in these laws are the guidelines for local officials’ salaries, which in some cases have not been updated since the 1960s. Some of these salaries have been capped or determined at the state level while others have been mandated at the municipal level. In general, the state requirements are purely arbitrary, and almost none have kept up with the effects of inflation.
 
My legislation removes all statewide compensation requirements, allowing each municipality to determine its officials’ salaries. Municipalities are more aware of their own budgetary constraints than the state is, and they are better positioned to determine the proper compensation for their officials. This will empower local governments to do whatever their citizens think is best for their own specific communities.
 
Please join me in supporting this important legislation.
 
If you have questions about this legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact me.      
 
Legislation
Document - Introduced as SB 998
Last updated on October 18, 2019 11:41 AM
Repealing State Restrictions on Compensation for Local Officials
October 18, 2019 11:40 AM to All Senate Members

Circulated By
LEACH

Memo
Soon I will introduce legislation to repeal all state restrictions on compensation for local officials.
 
Pennsylvania has 2,560 municipalities. These municipalities are further categorized into different classes of counties, boroughs, townships and cities, all of which operate pursuant to different state laws. Embedded in these laws are the guidelines for local officials’ salaries, which in some cases have not been updated since the 1960s. Some of these salaries have been capped or determined at the state level while others have been mandated at the municipal level. In general, the state requirements are purely arbitrary, and almost none have kept up with the effects of inflation.
 
My legislation removes all statewide compensation requirements, allowing each municipality to determine its officials’ salaries. Municipalities are more aware of their own budgetary constraints than the state is, and they are better positioned to determine the proper compensation for their officials. This will empower local governments to do whatever their citizens think is best for their own specific communities.
 
Please join me in supporting this important legislation.
 
If you have questions about this legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact me.      
 

Document
Introduced as SB 998

Last Updated
October 18, 2019 11:41 AM
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