Legislator seeks tax information about Allentown NIZ
HARRISBURG – The Senate today approved a resolution introduced by Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-16) to compel a top cabinet official in the Gov. Josh Shapiro administration to explain his refusal to provide information related to Allentown’s Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ), which previously was requested through a Senate committee subpoena.
“This is about openness and transparency, and making sure government is accountable to the taxpayers and residents it serves,” Coleman said. “One of the governor’s top appointees should not be hiding information about a program established by the legislature from legitimate legislative review. The legislature must be able to share with Allentown residents and Pennsylvanians how the NIZ program is functioning.”
Coleman introduced Senate Resolution 334 to compel Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne to testify under oath before the Senate.
Coleman previously introduced and the Senate approved a measure (Senate Resolution 110) calling on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct a performance audit of the Allentown NIZ. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution on Dec. 13, 2023, and the LBFC accepted the assignment.
LBFC requested information from Browne about Allentown NIZ tax revenue sources as part of the performance audit. Browne refused to provide the information.
This isn’t Browne’s first effort to prevent public inspection of Allentown NIZ financial records.
Browne served as the state senator for the 16th Senate District until he was replaced by Coleman in 2022. As a senator, Browne introduced the legislation that authorized the creation in 2009 of the Allentown NIZ. He also inserted language in a 2021 state law to prevent the public disclosure of Allentown NIZ financial information in response to Right to Know Law requests from local newspapers. That language now is being asserted as a basis to prevent a full review of the program by the legislature and legislative agencies.
With more than a half-billion dollars invested in the Allentown NIZ during the past decade, Coleman wants the state legislature and taxpayers to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
“The fact that anyone is willing to go to such lengths to prevent the legislature from seeing this information is concerning,” Coleman said. “I want taxpayers and legislators to be able to evaluate the things the Allentown NIZ is doing with all that money.”
The Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, which is chaired by Coleman, voted in July to subpoena Browne and call on him and the Department of Revenue to provide the Senate with a comprehensive breakdown of state taxes collected through the Allentown NIZ. The subpoena gave Browne a deadline of 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, to turn over the Allentown NIZ tax information. Browne has not fully complied with the committee subpoena.
Coleman’s resolution calls on Browne to appear before the Senate within three legislative days. The Senate is in session Wednesday, Oct. 9, and then is scheduled to be in session again Monday, Oct. 21, through Wednesday, Oct. 23.
If the Senate finds Browne’s testimony unconvincing, he may face charges of being in contempt of the Senate.
Residents who want to learn more about Coleman can visit his website at www.SenatorColeman.com, follow him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SenatorJarrettColeman and sign up for email newsletters at www.SenatorColeman.com/eNewsletters.
CONTACT: Leo Knepper