(Harrisburg, PA- AP) A bill that would give pension increases to more than 60,000 retired school and government workers passed the Pennsylvania House by a comfortable margin on Tuesday, although opponents warned it would saddle taxpayers with a $1 billion bill.

The 135-67 vote sent the measure to the Republican majority state Senate as the current two-year legislative session is winding down.

The proposal applies to municipal police officers and firefighters who have been retired for at least five years, as well as teachers and state employees who retired before July 2, 2001. A House financial analysis said the increases for teacher and state workers would range between 15% and nearly 25%, depending on when the person retired.

Supporters argued that public sector retirees used to get regular cost-of-living increases.

“They’ve had to make do because we haven’t done,” Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, argued on the House floor. “Let’s give these folks the dollars they need to provide for themselves, since they have provided for us for so long.”

However, the Republicans who voted ‘no’ characterized it as unaffordable and hard to justify to constituents who don’t have traditional defined benefit pensions but will end up paying for the retirees’ raises. The financial analysis said the proposal would add $332 million to the unfunded liability for the State Employees’ Retirement System and $614 million for the Public School Employees’ Retirement System.

(Reported by Beaver County News Correspondant Sandy Giordano, Published on October 23, 2024 at 9:49 A.M.)

Mikaela Malobabich was hired as  a long term substitute teacher at the junior high school. she will begin her duties on  Thursday, October 25, 2024.  Sharon Mercer was hired  as a new junior high school grill-prep person in the cafeteria beginning today.  Lauren Hale was hired as a cafeteria substitute worker.. Tim McGovern was hired as a substitute custodian , Barry MacDonald was hired as a bus driver..

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh International Airport could surpass over ten million passengers in 2024. According to data released on Friday during the Allegheny County Airport Authority’s monthly meeting, there were 7.5 million passengers through Pittsburgh International Airport through the end of September. The last time that Pittsburgh International Airport had ten million passengers was back in 2005.

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release from the Pennsylvania Department of State, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said Tuesday that there is one week left to to apply for their mail-in ballot online or in person. Schmidt also hopes those who want to vote by mail to apply for and return their completed ballot as soon as possible to ensure their vote is counted. Schmidt also notes the steps to make sure their ballot is counted.

• Read all instructions enclosed with the ballot.
• Fill out the ballot by following the instructions on how to mark selections. Check both sides of the ballot in case there are races listed on the second page.
• Seal the ballot in the yellow inner secrecy envelope marked “official election ballot.” Do not make any stray marks on the envelope.
• Seal the yellow inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return envelope.
• Sign and write the current date on the voter’s declaration on the outer return envelope.
• Mail or hand deliver the completed ballot to their county elections office, or hand deliver the ballot to an officially designated satellite office or drop box.

Source for Photo: In this Oct. 13, 2020, photo, an envelope of a Pennsylvania official mail-in ballot for the 2020 general election in Marple Township, Pa. The Supreme Court will allow Pennsylvania to count ballots received up to three days after the election, rejecting a Republican plea. The justices divided 4-4 on Oct. 19, an outcome that upholds a state Supreme Court ruling that allowed election officials to receive and count ballots until Nov. 6, even if they don’t have a clear postmark. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

(Ambridge, PA) New grants totaling $2.86 million will fund roof replacement projects for three schools in the 16th Legislative District, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced Tuesday.

Matzie said the grants, awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program, will address drainage issues and leaks creating potential hazards.

“Several of our school districts have identified serious roof issues that have caused deterioration, drainage problems, leaks, and the buildup of mold and mildew,” Matzie said. “The new funding will ensure that repair and replacement projects move forward so that students, teachers and school staff have the safe surroundings and healthy environments they deserve.”

Matzie said the funding includes:

• $1.15 million to Hopewell Area School District for Phase I of a project to replace more than half the roof area on the Hopewell Area Senior High School to resolve leaks, remediate mold and mildew and improve energy efficiency.

• $1 million to Aliquippa School District for a roof repair project at Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School that will include removing the existing roof system down to the decking; addressing drainage issues and leaks that pose a threat to the infrastructure; and performance of restoration/replacement work. 

• $713,777 to Rochester Area School District for improvements to the K-12 facility, including replacement of two air handling units and part of the roof in the high school wing and replacement of roof areas that have deteriorated and are causing leaks and moisture and mold problems in the high school wing. 

The Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program – administered by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority – provides funding to public school districts and career and technical schools for eligible facility improvement projects. Grants are available for eligible improvement projects with a total project cost of $500,000 or more and may not exceed $5 million for any project. 

(Ambridge, PA) New grant funding of $2.73 million will support projects to bring smoother travel, stronger wastewater infrastructure and expanded recreational spaces to District 16 residents, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced Tuesday.

Matzie said the grants, awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Statewide Local Share Account funding, will support projects ranging from repairs to new construction. 

Matzie said the funding includes:

• $750,000 to Harmony Township for road resurfacing projects to rehabilitate four deteriorated roads. 

• $500,000 to the Aliquippa Municipal Water Authority to replace two clarifiers at the city’s wastewater plant, with the goal of reducing maintenance costs and improving reliability.

• $500,000 to Center Township to support construction of a four seasons lodge in a township municipal park. 

• $423,382 to Hopewell Township to acquire and clear three brownfield parcels next to an existing sports facility for future development of the Todd Road Recreational Complex. 

• $300,000 to the Rochester Borough Sewer and Maintenance Authority for sanitary sewer improvements, including line replacement and manhole connections, on six roads. 

• $257,250 to the Baden Borough Municipal Authority to retrofit a bar screen at the wastewater treatment plant to improve removal of solids and reduce maintenance costs. 

Matzie said the Harmony Township road repair funding would be especially helpful for the township. 

“Harmony Township has been handcuffed by the cost of repairing a landslide after severe storms this past spring on Woodland Road,” Matzie said. “The road is a township road and there is no state funding program for emergency repairs. Securing this funding can go toward any shortfall for this issue and also support other road improvement projects.” 

Statewide Local Share Account funding comes from the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, which provides for the distribution of gaming revenues through CFA to support projects in the public interest in Pennsylvania. 

(Beaver County, PA) The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association is being investigated after trying to move the Aliquippa Quips Football Program from 4A to 5A. According to a release from Rep. Rob Matzie’s office, House Resolution 318, which directs the Legislative Budget and Finance committee to evaluate the PIAA’s management, policies and finances passed by a vote of 152-50. The PIAA stressed in January that after Aliquippa won the state title in November in the 4A class, the Quips needed to move to 5A, and Aliquippa lost the appeal after that decision. However, a May court ruling prevented this move because the Aliquippa school district attorney advocated for both the health and safety of the players for their football team.