January 11, 2021 – Issue 140 date corporation tax collections total $2.2 billion, Revenue Department which is $310.4 million, or 16.6 percent, above Releases December 2020 estimate. Collections Inheritance tax revenue for the month was $104.8 million, $14.4 million above estimate, ennsylvania collected $3.7 billion in General bringing the year-to-date total to $605.0 million, Fund revenue in December, which was which is $14.3 million, or 2.4 percent, above P $465.8 million, or 14.5 percent, more than estimate. anticipated, Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell reported. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund Realty transfer tax revenue was $68.6 million collections total $18.5 billion, which is $467.1 for December, $19.2 million above estimate, million, or 2.6 percent, above estimate. bringing the fiscal-year total to $316.9 million, which is $19.2 million, or 6.5 percent, more than Sales tax receipts totaled $1.0 billion for anticipated. December, $54.4 million above estimate. Year-to- date sales tax collections total $6.4 billion, which is Other General Fund tax revenue, including $54.4 million, or 0.9 percent, more than cigarette, malt beverage, liquor and gaming taxes, anticipated. totaled $178.5 million for the month, $17.6 million above estimate and bringing the year-to-date total to Personal income tax (PIT) revenue in $994.4 million, which is $17.5 million, or 1.8 December was $1.2 billion, $36.0 million above percent, above estimate. estimate. This brings year-to-date PIT collections to $7.4 billion, which is $36.0 million, or 0.5 percent, Non-tax revenue totaled $375.6 million for the above estimate. month, $15.4 million above estimate, bringing the year-to-date total to $665.3 million, which is $15.3 December corporation tax revenue of $771.3 million, or 2.4 percent, above estimate. million was $308.8 million above estimate. Year-to- In addition to the General Fund collections, the after working his way up from inspector to program Motor License Fund received $172.9 million for manager. Miller began his DEP career as an the month, $11.2 million below estimate. Fiscal inspector in the Southeast Regional Office's waste year-to-date collections for the fund - which include management program. Miller holds a Bachelor of the commonly known gas and diesel taxes, as well Science degree in environmental biology from the as other license, fine and fee revenues - total $1.4 University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. billion, which is $5.8 million, or 0.4 percent, below estimate. "I look forward to meeting with the various stakeholders in the southwest region and am excited As part of the state budget recently signed by for this opportunity to continue the work I've done Gov. Tom Wolf, an amendment to the Fiscal Code in other regions promoting responsible development required the Department of Revenue to revise and environmental stewardship, two goals that are revenue estimates for the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. not mutually exclusive," said Miller. Those revised estimates are reflected in the information above. McDonnell points to Miller and Schwartz's shared emphasis on communication and efficiency Source: PA Dept. of Revenue Press Release, as constants for the region, "Jim and Ron are both 1/4/2021 natural problem solvers, a trait that has become a hallmark of each director's career in public service and has furthered DEP's mission." Jim Miller Named Regional Director of Southwest "Ron's leadership was instrumental in DEP achieving a 90 percent reduction in the permitting Regional Office Leadership backlog in the Southwest region during his tenure as regional director," added McDonnell. "On behalf of change follows retirement of DEP, I wish him all the best in his well-deserved Ronald Schwartz retirement." ffective January 2, 2021, James "Jim" Miller John Holden, clean water program manager became the regional director of the in DEP's Northwest Regional Office, will serve as Pennsylvania Department of Environmental acting regional director for that office. E Protection's (DEP) Southwest Regional Office. He replaces Ronald Schwartz, PE, BCEE, who recently Source: DEP Press Release, 1/4/2021 retired after nearly 35 years of service. Miller, who previously led DEP's Northwest Regional Office for House Democrats announce four and a half years, will manage field operations for Allegheny, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, committee chairs for 2021-22 Washington, Westmoreland, and Somerset counties. legislative session "Jim brings a commonsense approach to management, and his experience in a variety of n January 4, 2021, House Democratic roles within DEP makes him the right leader at the Leader Joanna McClinton, D- right time. I am confident that Jim's emphasis on O Phila./Delaware, announced the members of relationship building will continue the Southwest's the House Democratic Caucus who will serve as progress in recent years," said DEP Secretary Democratic chairs of the standing committees for Patrick McDonnell. the 2021-22 legislative session beginning Tuesday. Miller has served DEP for over 30 years. Prior to "Our committees do the heavy lifting. They are being named regional director for DEP's Northwest the places where legislation is refined and decisions Regional Office, he was assistant regional director are made that can either extend more power to the for the Northcentral Regional Office for six years people or give it to the special interests -- and those 2 committees need a steady hand and a strong vision Tourism & Recreational Development to lead them," McClinton said. "I am confident Committee - Rep. Mary Jo Daley, Montgomery these proven leaders are more than up to the County challenge and will always make sure any legislation Transportation Committee - Rep. Mike Carroll, advanced to the full House of Representatives must Lackawanna & Luzerne counties put the people first." Urban Affairs Committee - Rep. Mike Sturla, Lancaster County The list of Democratic committee chairs Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness follows: Committee - Rep. Chris Sainato, Lawrence County Aging & Older Adult Services Committee - Source: Rep. Joanna E. McClinton Press Release, Rep. Steve Samuelson, Northampton County 1/4/2021 Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee - Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, Luzerne County Children & Youth Committee - Rep. Pam Speaker Cutler Names House DeLissio, Montgomery & Philadelphia counties Committee Chairs Commerce Committee - Rep. John Galloway, Bucks County n January 5, 2021, Speaker of the House Consumer Affairs Committee - Rep. Robert Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) announced the Matzie, Beaver & Allegheny counties O members of the House Republican Caucus Education Committee - Rep. Mark Longietti, who will serve as chairs of the House standing Mercer County committees for the 2021-22 Legislative Session. Environmental Resources & Energy Under the rules of the House of Representatives, Committee - Rep. Greg Vitali, Delaware & members with seniority are designated for a chair; Montgomery counties however, the decision to assign a specific individual Finance Committee - Rep. Kevin Boyle, to a committee also considers preference, direct Philadelphia feedback from members as well as other factors. Game and Fisheries Committee - Rep. Ed Neilson, Philadelphia "Each of these respected and successful Gaming Oversight Committee - Rep. Scott lawmakers brings years of experience, expertise and Conklin, Centre County drive to their respective positions," Cutler said. Health Committee - Rep. Dan Frankel, "Committees are the backbone of our legislative Allegheny County process. This is where the voice of the people is Human Services Committee - Rep. Angel Cruz, shaped into policy ideas that eventually become Philadelphia law. I look forward to seeing what each of these Insurance Committee - Rep. Tony DeLuca, chairs can accomplish with their committees over Allegheny County the next two years." Judiciary Committee - Rep. Tim Briggs, Montgomery County Aging and Older Adult Services Committee - Labor & Industry Committee - Rep. Gerald Rep. Gary Day (R-Lehigh/Berks) Mullery, Luzerne County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee - Liquor Control Committee - Rep. Dan Deasy, Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) Allegheny County Children and Youth Committee - Rep. Sheryl Local Government Committee - Rep. Bob Delozier (R-Cumberland) Freeman, Northampton County Commerce Committee - Rep. Brad Roae (R- Professional Licensure Committee - Rep. Jake Crawford/Erie) Wheatley, Allegheny County Consumer Affairs Committee - Rep. Jim State Government Committee - Rep. Margo Marshall (R-Beaver/Butler) Davidson, Delaware County Education Committee - Rep. Curt Sonney (R- Erie) 3 Environmental Resources and Energy (DEP) today lifted drought watch or warning for 20 Committee - Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) counties, returning them to normal status. Three Finance Committee - Rep. Mike Peifer (R- counties remain on drought watch. Pike/Wayne) Game and Fisheries Committee - Rep. Keith Drought watch or warning has been lifted for Gillespie (R-York) Bradford, Cameron, Columbia, Cumberland, Elk, Gaming Oversight Committee - Rep. Sue Helm Forest, Jefferson, Juniata, Lycoming, McKean, (R-Dauphin/Lebanon) Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Health Committee - Rep. Kathy Rapp (R- Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Warren, and Wyoming Warren/Crawford/Forest) counties. Human Services Committee - Rep. Frank Farry Centre and Clearfield counties remain on (R-Bucks) drought watch. Clinton County is also on drought watch, having improved from drought warning