While the 2013-14 state budget Gov. Tom Corbett proposed this week to the General Assembly increases spending but not taxes, the big concern for architects is the one-year extension of the moratorium on the PlanCon program.

The administration and stakeholders have been meeting the last six months to determine, what, if any, changes are needed to the policies and procedures for deciding funding on new school construction projects. The moratorium was to be lifted in May.

But the administration decided, under this budget, to extend by one year the Education Department's acceptance of school reimbursement requests for construction and renovation projects through the Planning and Construction Workbook program.

The funding of PlanCon remains at $292.2 million, which is level with last year. At this point, it is unclear what this will mean regarding the releasing of funds for projects in the pipeline or any specifics regarding the moratorium. The Department of Education has a statutory guideline to report back to the Senate with a plan by May 1. AIA members need to keep in contact with their lawmakers, letting them know how vital PlanCon is to their firm's business and to overall school safety.

With the administration anticipating better revenue returns this year, thanks to its tight spending policies of the last two years, Corbett is proposing a $28.4 billion budget, a 3 percent increase that includes more money for education.

Pennsylvania spends $5.5 billion annually on education. Corbett's budget proposes to increase funding nearly $100 million to be distributed to the school districts.

Furthermore, if he wins passage of legislation to sell the state's liquor stores, Corbett wants to use the proceeds solely for education. It's only speculation at this point, but the moratorium extension could be based on whether the liquor stores are sold.   

While the Historic Preservation Incentive Act was signed into law last year and funded at $3 million annually for historic preservation projects that rehabilitate buildings and homes, this, too remains uncertain, depending on the final revenue numbers.

For the long awaited transportation plan, the governor proposed raising $5 billion over five years.

The funding would come from lifting the "antiquated" cap on the tax of the wholesale price of fuel, a $1.25 levy (yes, that is how old this tax is, when gas was $1.25 per gallon) that oil and gas companies pay, but is ultimately passed to the consumer.

This would be done in phases, but the governor also proposed cutting the gas tax, which is paid at the pump, by 2 cents, from 12 to 10 cents per gallon. He said this should lessen the financial impact on motorists.

Corbett's plan to fix and build roads, bridges and mass transit systems is long-term. For AIA members, this will mean new construction, but the level of funding Corbett proposes indicates steady, not necessarily fast, movement on new projects.

Interestingly, the governor recently appointed former PennDOT Secretary Brad Mallory as his deputy secretary of administration. Mallory served for eight years as transportation head in the Ridge administration, when the state coffers overflowed and there were road and bridge projects aplenty.

Despite the billions of dollars Corbett is proposing, some lawmakers are skeptical over whether it's enough to address the state's transportation infrastructure needs.

The ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Joe Markosek of Allegheny County, told the Associated Press the funding as proposed would be "woefully inadequate" to meet those needs.

Now that Corbett has presented his budget, the real work of what eventually gets signed into law begins. Hearings and debates will start soon and continue well into the spring. The state constitution requires a new budget by the fiscal year's start, July 1.

I am writing to say thank you to the membership, board, staff and loyal sponsors of AIA Pennsylvania for giving me the privilege for 10 ½ years of working with you.  I am moving on to assume the executive director position at the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia.

 

AIA Pennsylvania is a very special organization.  We have a small, but dedicated and highly qualified staff.  Volunteers on our board of directors and committees are deeply committed to serving the profession and the Commonwealth.  I have been energized and motivated by the relevance of your policy agenda and by your dedication to seeing that agenda through-despite the often slow-turning wheels of state government.  You care about building healthy, safe and sustainable communities.  You are devoted to your profession and its future. 

 

It has been both a pleasure and an honor to be part of your team.  As a team, we have accomplished a great deal together and AIA Pennsylvania has been nationally recognized for its work.  Here are a few of the things we have accomplished together:

• Enhancing the influence of Citizen Architects through Architects Day in the Capitol and by successfully recommending architects for positions on state boards and committees.
• Educating architects around the Commonwealth about the statewide building code and the ongoing work to protect it.
• Celebrating your work through the Architectural Excellence Awards and exhibits in the Capitol Rotunda.
• Enhancing the support for architects' issues in state government through strategic use of the Pennsylvania Architects Political Action Committee and an engaged Government Affairs Committee.
• Protecting the architects' license and seal by fending off intrusions on the profession by the homebuilders and interior designers, and by regular submission of unauthorized practice of architecture complaints to the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs through our Licensure Committee.
• Protecting architects' bottom line through passage of the Fair Share Act and historic tax credit and through successful opposition to both mandatory prototypical schools and expansion of sales tax to design services.
• Protecting your financial soundness by successfully getting the Department of General Services to negotiate architects' fees for public projects.

Thanks to the good work of AIA Pennsylvania, its staff and volunteers, we are a growing influence in the State Capitol and that benefits the profession.  We are active participants in numerous coalitions.  Legislators and policy makers are regularly seeking our input. 

 

While I am leaving, I am not saying goodbye.  In my new capacity as executive director of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, I look forward to working with architects in the AIA Philadelphia and AIA Bucks County chapter areas.  I also expect to work with AIA Pennsylvania on state policy and legislative initiatives that will benefit Pennsylvania's older communities and historic buildings.  As many of you know, I worked in the planning and community development arena with a focus on historic preservation and smart growth land use prior to coming to AIA Pennsylvania.  Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure of working with architects-that is what attracted me to AIA Pennsylvania in the first place.  The good news for me is that I will continue to work with you but in a different capacity.

 

As I leave, I have written my annual check to the Pennsylvania Architects PAC.  My parting request to you is to be an effective Citizen Architect.  Give to the PAC every year, attend Architects Day, respond to AIA Pennsylvania's Advocacy Alerts, and get involved in your communities at the local level.  The citizens and communities in this Commonwealth need your expertise and influence.

 

Thank you for giving me one of the most rewarding experiences I ever could have imagined.

 

With best wishes to each of you and to AIA Pennsylvania.

 

Fondly,

Caroline