In a 786-page decision issued on February 7, 2023, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional and must be reformed. The case William Penn School District et al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Education et al. was filed against the Pennsylvania Department of Education, state legislative leaders, state education officials, and the governor (collectively, the “Defendants”) in 2014 by six Pennsylvania school districts, four parents of minor children, the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – Pennsylvania State Conference (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”). The Plaintiffs claimed… read more »
Renew America’s Schools Grant
On November 29, President Biden, through the U.S. Department of Energy, announced that applications are open for the Renew America’s Schools grant program. This first-of-its-kind investment will enable K-12 public schools to make clean energy improvements and upgrades that will lower energy costs and foster healthier learning environments. The grant provides a total of $500 million in funding. The first round of grants will provide up to $80 million for schools to install energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems, improve the insulation of their facilities, switch to electric vehicles, and convert facilities to renewable energy sources such as solar and… read more »
New Numbers for a New Year
Happy New Year! The new year brings to us new numbers to keep in mind for municipal decision-making in 2023: Bid advertising requirements. In 2023, the threshold requiring advertisement of a municipal bid will increase to $22,500, up from $21,900 in 2022. The amount requiring collection of multiple telephone quotes for municipal work will increase to $12,200, up from $11,800 in 2022. Municipal action below the threshold of $12,200 will not require competitive solicitation. While these numbers are up, they have not increased at pace with the 8.2% increase in the consumer price index; Pennsylvania statute prevents the increase of these bidding requirements from exceeding… read more »
Barb Ross: Over Four Decades of Service
Barb Ross has been an indispensable part of the CGA Municipal Department for over 40 years! She is a paralegal specializing in Municipal Collections and Foreclosures. In her day-to-day work at CGA, Barb plays an integral role in the delivery of legal services to individuals and groups. She has an advanced understanding of the legal system and can go beyond administrative tasks and assist with more detailed work. Barb has formed strong friendships with her colleagues and they rely on her extensive knowledge. When asked about Barb, Municipal Law Chair Attorney Devon Myers-Kolomick said “Barb is a tremendous resource to… read more »
Items to Consider Upon a Rezoning Request
Most municipalities include within their Zoning Ordinances a procedure permitting landowners within their prospective municipalities to request a rezoning for a parcel within the municipality. The rezoning request is a request to amend the municipalities zoning map. A municipality upon such request should review its Ordinance provisions to ensure that proper procedure is being followed, all information required in the application is provided, and that any necessary fee is paid. Generally, a rezoning request is a good opportunity for the municipality to seek advice and counsel from its own Planning Commission as well as from the York County Planning Commission…. read more »
CGA Law Firm Elects Stephen R. McDonald to Shareholder
CGA Law Firm is pleased to announce the election of Stephen R. McDonald, Esq. to shareholder. Stephen has been practicing law for over 25 years and has acquired extensive experience in multiple areas. He is a seasoned attorney in both civil litigation and criminal defense. Well versed in municipal law, Stephen serves as the solicitor for multiple municipalities in South Central Pennsylvania, and the York County Clerk of Court’s Office. He often represents clients in front of zoning hearing boards and other municipal and local government entities. Prior to joining CGA, Stephen worked at the Office of the District Attorney for… read more »
To-Do List for PA Municipalities Before the Calendar Flips
As we get near the end of 2022, it is time for local municipalities in Pennsylvania to begin thinking about everything that needs to be accomplished before the calendar flips to 2023. Four of the major items that every municipality needs to accomplish before the end of the year are the passage of a budget, adoption of a tax resolution or ordinance, making necessary appointments or re-appointments to boards and commissions, and advertisement of meetings for the following year. Once a tentative budget has been ironed out, the board or council must approve advertisement of that tentative budget. This action… read more »
Attorney Wilson Presents “The Mayor, the Chief, and the Law: Best Practices for Avoiding Civil Lawsuits”
Attorney John R. Wilson Presented “The Mayor, the Chief, and the Law: Best Practices for Avoiding Civil Lawsuits”at the Pennsylvania State Mayors Association on Tuesday, November 22nd. His partners for this presentation included Attorney Jim Nowalk and Mayor Ron Harris. The webinar provided information to borough and city mayors regarding the respective roles of the two in the context of a municipal policing. Specifically, the mayor’s role as the elected and accountable “head of the police department” and the police chief’s role as the boots-on-the-ground law enforcement professional with years of police experience. John’s portion of the webinar summarized the… read more »
Tax Credit Increase for Volunteer Emergency Service Providers
The Volunteer Service Credit Act (the “Act”), which is found in 35 Pa. C.S.A. Health and Safety, was amended in 2020 by Act 91 to allow active volunteer firefighters to take an even greater tax credit. As many municipalities are experiencing first hand, volunteer fire and emergency service companies are declining in numbers of volunteers across the Commonwealth. The Act (Act 172 of 2016) was adopted to assist with recruiting and maintaining active volunteers by offering financial incentives. This credit allows for volunteer firefighters to obtain a credit against municipal real estate tax obligations for amounts they have paid that… read more »
The Central Penn Business Journal has Selected Devon Myers Kolomick, Attorney at CGA Law Firm as a Forty Under Forty Recipient
Forty Under Forty recognizes professionals 40 years of age and younger who have been successful in the Central Pennsylvania area. Honorees, chosen by the editors and publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal, were selected based on professional accomplishments, community service and commitment to inspiring change. A listing of honorees can be found on the CPBJ website. “The 2022 Forty Under 40 honorees represent the future of Central Pennsylvania. They have achieved professional success and are making significant contributions to our community and inspire change,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, senior group publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal. “We at the… read more »
