November 4 Ballot Question

On Election Day, Pennsylvanians will be asked to vote yes or no to a $400 million bond issue which would fund the reconstruction, rehabilitation and improvement of the state’s water and sewer systems and help reduce pollution in local waterways. Senator Ray Musto is the sponsor of legislation placing the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"These funds will help alleviate the necessity of raising local fees or taxes to pay for the upgrades," Musto says. "In many communities the federal government has mandated improvements leaving local governments with no choice."


The funds, which will be distributed through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), will help municipalities with the following:

1. Collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater, including industrial waste;
2. Supply, treatment and storage or distribution of drinking
water;
3. Control and elimination of combined sewer overflows, such as discharge from a sewer that combines sanitary wastewaters and storm waters;
4. Meeting stricter federal standards for reducing Chesapeake Bay pollution;
5. Control of storm water;
6. Addressing source pollution associated with storm water runoff.

If approved, the $400 million bond issue would help municipalities pay for the improvements without passing the financial burden on to water and sewer users and local taxpayers. It would be combined with other action by the Pennsylvania Senate earmarking $800 million in slots revenue for water and sewer projects.