SEPTA, the largest transit system in Pennsylvania, is facing a funding crisis and might need to implement drastic service cuts and fare hikes if Harrisburg doesn't provide additional financial support. The potential solution lies in taxing income from unregulated 'skill games' prevalent in convenience stores across the state.
Despite SEPTA 's austerity measures, the transit agency will need to make drastic cuts if Harrisburg can't provide more dollars.
The missing puzzle piece could come down to revenue from taxing skill games, the pseudo-slot machines proliferating in convenience stores across the state, currently unregulated. ThatMany transit advocates agree that things are heading toward a more-funding-for-all-transportation approach and note that the skill-games bills on the table would not generate enough.
So financial officials are factoring into the developing budget the possibility that no new money would come from Harrisburg. That would enable the agency to quickly organize required public hearings before cutting service or raising fare hikes — if needed. GOP leaders also expressed reluctance to tap the sales tax and floated using a new levy on skill games to raise the funds. That initiative never materialized amid internal disagreements and intense lobbying from casino interests.Senate Republicans
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and Majority Leader Joe Pittman said in a memo to senators that a skill-games measure is a priority this year.As the state’s largest transit system, SEPTA has often been a focus of the debate, drawing heavy criticism from Republicans for spending decisions and not emphasizing law and order on the system enough.
SEPTA Funding Skill Games Pennsylvania Transit
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