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For Immediate Release
February 9, 2009
Contact: Sally Kohr
(717) 787-4651

Alloway Supports Legislation to Return Funds from Legislative Accounts

HARRISBURG – Senator Richard Alloway II (R-33) has cosponsored legislation that would transfer a large portion of surplus funds from legislative accounts to the General Fund.

"With the economy struggling to recover and the budget deficit continuing to increase, we must do our part to spend the taxpayer's money as wisely as possible to reduce the number of cuts required to present a balanced budget," Alloway said. "This year's budget will include a number of difficult choices, and we have a responsibility to squeeze every penny of savings we can from every branch of state government."

Senate Bill 10 would leave sufficient funds in legislative accounts to continue operations for up to four months in the event of an emergency or budget impasse. The bill would require that all funds in excess of this reserve be returned to the General Fund at the end of each fiscal year.

The Senate has already reduced its number of employees by 8.6 percent since January 2006, and the appropriation to the Senate has been cut by 6 percent since the 2005-06 fiscal year.

In addition to supporting legislation to draw down legislative accounts, Alloway has helped to save more than $350,000 from his own office's expenses for 2009. Alloway saved the taxpayers about $100,000 alone by not hiring an executive director for the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, instead choosing to have his legislative director and chief of staff share the committee duties.

Other savings include not accepting a per diem while in Harrisburg, driving his own vehicle instead of leasing one at taxpayer expense, and refusing to accept mileage reimbursements for travel within the district. Alloway said the office savings would be returned to the General Fund as well.