COUNTY CONTROLLER CHELSA WAGNER URGES COUNCIL TO VOTE NO TO DRILLING IN PARKS, SUGGESTS PLAN TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES IF VOTE

IS YES (PITTSBURGH) January 23, 2014 Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner today encouraged County Council to vote to ban fracking in County parks at next weeks council meeting and suggested a plan to lower property taxes if the final vote is yes. While Marcellus shale drilling does present economic and industrious benefits, Wagner believes that parks are important, irreplaceable assets for all residents and must be protected. In the event that Council chooses to allow fracking in County parks thereby presenting potential dangers in the free, safe, public spaces available to all taxpayers Wagner suggests a plan to apply revenue gained from drilling to lower all residents property taxes by HOW MUCH. Our parks and green spaces are safe, friendly places where children play, families gather and residents stay active, Wagner said. They are not spaces appropriate for industrious, potentially harmful activity. Local leaders must take the lead to vigilantly protect the interests of our citizens and future generations, while remaining environmentally and economically responsible. In a Taxpayer Alert issued by the Controllers Office, Wagner outlines three reasons why drilling should not be allowed in County parks: Parks are different o Allegheny Countys parks are part of what makes the Pittsburgh region an international model for responsible use of natural green spaces and sustainable planning. Fracking may be appropriate in other, more industrious parts of the County, but the parks may be irreparably damaged by truck traffic, new access roads and invasive infrastructure. Unseen legacy costs: o Years from now, when gas wells are dry and drillers have vacated the parks, the County will be left with industrial waste, as well as a damaged environment, that will cost time and money to clean up. Wagner points out that it has taken decades to recover industrial sites leftover from Pittsburghs time as a steelmaking powerhouse and suggests, lets not take one step forward to take three steps back. Parks futures are funded o County parks are funded by a number of sources including Regional Asset District fund allocation, public-private partnerships, local foundations, private contributions, and various taxes and fees. Further, there are opportunities to garner additional funds from other sources. Thus, the parks are not in financial danger and it is not necessary to use gas drilling revenue to reinvest in their future.

Additionally, if Council chooses to use park resources for fracking, Wagner suggested a plan to use gas drilling profits to lower residents property taxes. Data provided by WHERE suggests that Allegheny County may collect up to $73 million in receipt for drilling in Deer Lakes Park. By setting that money aside, in a property tax lockbox, Wagner projects that Allegheny County residents property taxes could be lowered by HOW MUCH. If Allegheny County Council members make the decision to use park resources which belong to all citizens than all citizens should benefit from this sacrifice, Wagner said. Because our parks are sustainably funded by various sources, there is no need to reinvest in them using profits presented by fracking. Instead, that income should be used more effectively and in a way that benefits everyone. Revenue gained from gas drilling should be committed to a property tax lockbox and be used to help lower all County residents property taxes.