PRINTER'S NO. 1696
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1220
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY FARRY, JUNE 7, 2024
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JUNE 7, 2024
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), entitled
2 "An act concerning townships of the first class; amending,
3 revising, consolidating, and changing the law relating
4 thereto," in finance and taxation, further providing for tax
5 levies.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 1709(a)(2) and (7) and (c) of the act of
9 June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), known as The First Class
10 Township Code, are amended to read:
11 Section 1709. Tax Levies.--(a) The board of commissioners
12 may levy taxes by resolution for taxes levied at the same rate
13 as or a rate lower than the previous fiscal year, and by
14 ordinance if the tax rate increases from the previous fiscal
15 year, upon all property and upon all occupations within the
16 township made taxable for township purposes and subject to
17 valuation and assessment by the county assessment office, for
18 the following purposes and at the following rates:
19 * * *
20 (2) (i) An annual tax [not exceeding three mills] for the
 1 purpose of:
2 (A) building and maintaining suitable places for the housing
3 of fire apparatus;
4 (B) purchasing, maintaining and operating fire apparatus;
5 (C) making of appropriations to fire companies located
6 inside or outside the township;
7 (D) contracting with adjacent municipalities or volunteer
8 fire companies therein for fire protection;
9 (E) the training of fire personnel and payments to fire
10 training schools and centers;
11 (F) the purchase of land upon which to erect a fire house;
12 and
13 (G) the erection and maintenance of a fire house or fire
14 training school and center.
15 (ii) The township may appropriate [up to one-half, but not
16 to exceed one mill, of] the revenue generated from a tax under
17 this clause for the purpose of paying salaries, benefits or
18 other compensation of fire suppression employes of the township
19 or a fire company serving the township.
20 [(iii) If an annual tax for the purposes specified in this
21 clause is proposed to be set at a level higher than three mills
22 the question shall be submitted to the voters of the township,
23 and the county board of elections shall frame the question in
24 accordance with the election laws of the Commonwealth for
25 submission to the voters of the township.]
26 * * *
27 (7) (i) An annual tax [not exceeding one-half mill] for the
28 purpose of supporting ambulance, rescue and other emergency
29 services serving the township.[, except as provided in
30 subsection (c).
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 1 (ii) The township may appropriate up to one-half of the
2 revenue generated from a tax under this clause for the purpose
3 of paying salaries, benefits or other compensation of employes
4 of an ambulance, rescue or other emergency service serving the
5 township.]
6 * * *
7 [(c) The tax for supporting ambulance and rescue squads
8 serving the township shall not exceed the rate specified in
9 subsection (a)(7) except when the question is submitted to the
10 voters of the township in the form of a referendum which will
11 appear on the ballot in accordance with the election laws of the
12 Commonwealth, in which case the rate shall not exceed three
13 mills. The county board of elections shall frame the question to
14 be submitted to the voters of the township in accordance with
15 the election laws of the Commonwealth.]
16 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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