Consistent with AIA National policy, AIA Pennsylvania is opposing Governor Rendell's proposal to apply the Pennsylvania sales tax to architectural services. On February 9th, the Governor presented his proposed budget for 2010/2011.  To address budget gaps, Governor Rendell proposed for Pennsylvnaia to join the ranks of states that tax natural gas extraction and tobacco products, and also to lower the states sales tax rate from 6 percent to 4 percent, but to spread the tax over 74 goods and servcies that are currently exempt; this includes architectural services.  The Governor said that all revenues would be put into a special Stimulus Transition Reserve Fund that could not be touched until July 2011 to help cover the estimated $2.3 billion budget gap that will result from the loss in federal stimulus dollars.  
 
AIA opposes the imposition of sales tax to architectural services.  Click here for the AIA Issue Brief on Taxation of Architectural Services.  AIA Pennsylvania and approximately 50 other organizations have created The Pennsylvania Coalition Opposed to an expanded Sales Tax (PennCOST).  The coalition represents a broad and diverse range of interests and constituents within Pennsylvania, strongly opposing the Governor's proposal to expand the sales and use tax as part of the upcoming budget. Among the coaltion partners are the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, the American Council of Engineering Companies/PA, the PA Association of Retailers; the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry; the Pennsylvnia Bankers Association and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania.
 
We will keep you apprised of our progress, and send out advocacy alerts as needed.
 

 

On March 1st, AIA Pennsylvania welcomes Robert C. Keaton to its staff as Government Affairs Manager. Bob has over 20 years of experience in Pennsylvania state government.  He served as Executive Policy Specialist in the Policy Office of former Governor Tom Ridge.  In that capacity he was the executive liaison between the Governor and the Departments of Banking, Insurance and Securities.  He worked for the Harrisburg based lobbying firm of Triad Strategies, LLC working with clients such as the American Heart Association, the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Technology.  Most recently he served as Director, State Government Affairs for Sunoco, Inc. 

Bob brings to AIA Pennsylvania excellent experience developing and implementing successful lobbying strategies; relationships with departments, agencies, legislators and their staffs; and first hand knowledge of the workings of state government.