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Council pauses on letter opposing possible expansion of Game Commission land purchases; asks for verified data
Summary
Councilors asked staff to verify acreage and fiscal-impact figures before signing a proposed joint letter that would oppose legislation to increase Pennsylvania Game Commission acquisition powers; the item was tabled for further fact-checking and redrafting.
The Warren City Council on March 12 discussed a draft letter, prepared with county and business stakeholders, opposing a proposed legislative move to increase the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s per‑acre acquisition capacity. After public comment and council discussion about numbers and impacts, councilors agreed to delay endorsing the letter and asked staff to verify acreage and fiscal calculations.
Nut graf: The draft memorandum circulated by business and county stakeholders expressed concern that increased game-land acquisitions could shrink the county’s taxable base and affect municipal and school tax revenue. Several councilors and members of the public questioned numerical claims in the draft — in particular the acreage totals and the per‑acre purchase price referenced in media reports — and asked staff to confirm the figures before any city endorsement.
During the discussion, councilors noted published figures showing substantial public land holdings in Warren County (Allegheny National Forest and Pennsylvania Game Commission tracts were discussed) and requested clarity on how much county land is on tax rolls versus held by state or federal agencies. Public commenters urged the council to consider pilot payments or other fiscal mitigations if acquisitions increase; another commenter argued the draft should be revised to request payment-in-lieu-of-taxes from acquiring bodies rather than an absolute halt on acquisitions.
Ending: Given the factual questions raised, council agreed to table the letter, direct staff to verify acreage and valuation numbers, and return with a revised draft and supporting evidence before any city endorsement or signatures are collected. The item was not put to a vote on the draft language at this meeting.
