Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
Friday, February 10, 2023The latest news from the State Capitol  Thank you to Kiwanis Club of Bradford for inviting me to join their meeting this week as guest speaker. We had a great discussion of state and local issues. I’m pictured here with club member Candy Tingley and club president Dennis Stromberg.  Thank you to the Potter County Commissioners and community development officials for a great discussion on Thursday about county economic development, the need for an increase in Payment in Lieu of Taxes from the state, reauthorization of county 9-1-1 services, election law changes and support for emergency services. Pictured from left: Commissioner Paul Heimel, vice chairman; Commissioner Nancy Grupp, chairman; me; Commissioner Barry Hayman; Will Hunt, director of county planning, community development and GIS; and Kal Logue, community development coordinator. Property Tax and Rent Rebate Clinics Set for Wednesday, Thursday  The first in our series of clinics to assist with filing for the 2022 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program will be held next Wednesday and Thursday. There is no cost for assistance, and no appointments are needed. Just bring the necessary documentation. Next week’s schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Feb. 15 • Eldred Senior Center, 169 Main St., Eldred – 9:30-11 a.m. • Ulysses Senior Center, 522 Main St., Ulysses – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Smethport Senior Center, 119 W. Main St., Smethport – noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 • Galeton Senior Center, 111 Germania St., Galeton – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. • Kane Senior Center, 100 N. Fraley St., Kane – 1-3 p.m. Click here to view the full schedule. If you are unable to attend any of the clinics, assistance is also available at my offices in Bradford, Coudersport and Kane. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Revenue Department automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners. The deadline to apply for a rebate is June 30. Rebates will be distributed beginning July 1, as required by law. Additional information, as well as claim forms and a link to apply online, are available at www.revenue.pa.gov. Supporting Our Local Fire, EMS Agencies  Fire and emergency response organizations in Cameron, McKean and Potter counties were awarded more than $425,000 in funding through the Fire and Emergency Services Grant Program.Our fire and EMS companies across the state, and especially in rural areas like ours, are struggling financially, and these grants provide some much-needed assistance. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and women who work so hard to protect our communities. The funding for the grants comes from an ongoing grant program created by the Legislature and administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner. All funding comes from the proceeds from slot machine gaming, and not General Fund tax revenue. The grants may be used for construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training, or reduction of existing debt. For more information and a full list of recipients, click here. Pick Up Pennsylvania Registration Now Open  Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has announced registration is open for the 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania, a community improvement initiative. Pick Up Pennsylvania is a year-long program; however, events scheduled from March 1 through May 31 receive free trash bags, gloves and safety vests provided by support from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT and Keep America Beautiful, as supplies last. Events can include litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, community greening and beautification, special collections, and education events. Click here to learn more, including how to register your group. Pay Attention to Your Heart Health!  February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. It notes one person dies every 34 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. About 697,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2020. That’s one in every five deaths. To protect yourself, the CDC encourages people to choose healthy foods and drinks, keep a healthy weight, get regular physical activity and don’t smoke. People should also take charge of medical conditions that could increase their risk of heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes. Learn more about heart disease and how to protect yourself here. |