HARRISBURG, October 24, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) issued the following statement on the passage of legislation that addresses problematic “stop and go” liquor businesses.  The measure also establishes a fix for the city’s Actual Value Initiative (AVI) calculation which impacts future state funding for city schools. 

The provisions were included in the state’s Fiscal Code (House Bill 674), a piece of the 2017-18 state budget package.

 

“This bill allows the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to suspend the licenses of stop-and-go nuisance establishments that impact our communities,” said Hughes. “This is an excellent, aggressive step forward that will improve enforcement, help neighborhoods combat crime and improve quality of life.”

The bill also has language that repairs the AVI calculation by setting the maximum market value of property at $47 billion and caps future increases, keeping the market value amount at a 1 to 3 percent increase. 

“The fix to the city’s Actual Value Initiative was necessary to prevent a significant cut to the School District of Philadelphia education subsidy. The cut would have inflicted further pain on a district that is already underfunded, and the legislation will save the school district $270 million.”

The Fiscal Code, which was approved yesterday by the Senate and today by the House, now goes to the governor’s desk for his signature.

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