HARRISBURG, May 15, 2009 — The Department of Community and Economic Development will host workshops across Pennsylvania to help local officials implement the new earned income tax collection system, DCED acting Secretary George Cornelius said today.

Signed into law last July, Act 32 reduces the number of earned income tax collectors statewide from 560 to 69 by Jan. 1, 2012; a change that will capture an estimated $237 million in lost tax revenue per year.

“Pennsylvania’s productivity and competitiveness depends upon efficient and effective government operations,” Cornelius said. “The new tax collection system represents a significant step in the right direction. Intergovernmental cooperation improves the level of local government services and eliminates redundancies to ensure government is working at an appropriate scale.”

Cornelius cautioned, however, that under the Senate’s proposed budget, many of the DCED programs that bolster intergovernmental cooperation will be severely cut or eliminated. The loss of these funds would harm local governments’ ability to defer start-up costs associated with joint projects, including the implementation of Act 32.

The workshops will be hosted by representatives from the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, a group of experts housed within DCED who provide vital training, services and programs to municipal officials and employees.

Cornelius said the transition to the new system will take time and encouraged municipal and school district officials to attend the workshops to ensure proper implementation of the law in the months and years ahead.

For more details on Act 32 and other DCED programs that encourage intergovernmental cooperation, visit www.newpa.com. For details on the Act 32 training sessions and to register online, go to www.palocalgovtraining.org or call 717-763-0930.

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