As the state struggles to repair the economy and recover from the COVID-19 crisis, elected officials in Harrisburg and Washington should promote programs that stimulate growth and job creation.
This is not the time to target one of our state’s most important industries, natural gas production, and propose a punitive severance tax. Marcellus Shale gas production has generated revenue accounting for nearly $2 billion to the state in the form of an impact tax, millions of property tax dollars, permit fees and other revenue sources.
Many municipalities and counties rely on the impact tax funding for infrastructure repairs and public safety projects. If another tax is imposed on the industry, there could be a significant drop in revenue that may hinder economic growth and recovery progress.
What we need right now is economic stability, security and growth, not a severance tax.