Tax relief for campgrounds in Pennsylvania could come at the expense of revenue tool for local governments

This story first appeared in Talk of the Town — a daily newsletter from the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown.

BELLEFONTE — Local governments are wary of a bipartisan bill that seeks to end a tax levied by some municipalities on campground visits, saying it will strip them of a potential revenue source.

The proposal, which unanimously passed the Pennsylvania House in July and awaits Senate consideration, would update state law to clarify that campgrounds aren’t places of amusement and shouldn’t be taxed as such.

State Rep. Paul Takac (D., Centre), who introduced the bill, says the measure will boost affordabilit