Northhampton News

Gov. Tom Wolf has asked the Pennsylvania General Assembly to use part of the $1.7 billion in unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for property tax and rent rebates to help the elderly and those with disabilities recover from the pandemic.

Wolf met with Rep. Steve Malagari, Sen. Maria Collett and community leaders to discuss the use of the funds, a press release from the governor’s office said this week. In February Wolf proposed a $1.7 billion action plan that includes using $204 million for property tax relief for state residents through the Property Tax Rent Rebate program. This is a one-time bonus rebate for current users of the program that doubles existing rebates. It is estimated that 466,000 Pennsylvania residents would receive an additional rebate of $475 on average.

“Our commonwealth is sitting on billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief money that is meant to help our citizens and it is past time to use that money for its intended purpose — to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians,” Wolf said in the release. “For Pennsylvanians on a budget or a fixed income, inflation causing costs to go up on everything, can lead to painful decisions. That’s why I want to use some of Pennsylvania’s federal COVID-19 relief funding to provide a boost to this program and legislation has been introduced in support of my plan. Now, I am calling on Republican leaders in the General Assembly to take action to send those bills to my desk.”

Sen. Collett introduced Senate Bill 1187, which supports Wolf’s proposal for a one-time bonus rebate. While it was referred to committee at the beginning of April, it hasn’t gone anywhere since then.

“As the Democratic Chair of the Senate’s Aging & Youth Committee, I’m pleased to see Governor Wolf supporting initiatives like this to help older and disabled Pennsylvanians,” Collett said in the release. “My legislation (SB 1187) would double this year’s payments under the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, ensuring our most vulnerable neighbors are able to keep roofs over their heads. With billions of federal ARPA dollars left to spend, there is no excuse not to make this investment.”

Also with Wolf and the legislators was Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chair Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, who spoke in favor of the proposal. In Montgomery County, the program has distributed a total of $6.4 million, benefitting 13,442 residents. It was especially helpful for the elderly, as nearly three-quarters of the recipients were 65 years old or older. 

Malagari voiced her approval of Wolf’s proposal, noting that seniors and others statewide have been affected by the increased health care and drug prescription costs, as well as the rising costs of food and utilities.

“The proposal to use these funds to mitigate the damages inflicted by the pandemic on financially vulnerable residents is exactly what the federal funds are meant to do,” she said in the release.

AARP State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh also spoke in favor of the program, and his thoughts echoed Malagari’s sentiments.

“Everyone is paying more for nearly everything today — from prescription drugs to gas to housing but, the problem of inflation is hardest for those on fixed incomes,” Johnston-Walsh said in the release. “The very purpose of the American Rescue Plan Act is to provide flexible, emergency funding for state and local governments to effectively respond to the negative economic impacts created by the pandemic. AARP Pennsylvania is pleased to support this critical investment of American Rescue Plan Act dollars to support Property Tax Rent Rebate Program beneficiaries.”  

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program was established in 1971 and has used $7.1 billion to support older adults with disabilities.