Wolf To Unveil Natural Gas Severance Tax Proposal
THORNDALE, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf will kick off a statewide "Schools that Teach Tour" and outline a forthcoming proposal to the Legislature to increase taxes on Pennsylvania's natural gas industry to help boost aid to public schools.
Wolf, a Democrat, will appear Wednesday at Caln Elementary School in Thorndale, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia.
Wolf pledged during his campaign for governor to impose a 5 percent severance to help wipe out cuts in public school aid under his predecessor, Republican Tom Corbett.
Under Corbett, lawmakers approved a per-well fee that critics say is tantamount to a 1 or 2 percent tax rate, among the lowest imposed by major natural gas producing states. About 60 percent of that money goes to local governments in drilling regions.
The industry opposes a tax increase.
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