Municipal Authority (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
A Municipal Authority is a form of special-purpose governmental unit
in Pennsylvania
. The municipal authority is an alternate vehicle for accomplishing public purposes without the direct action of counties, municipalities and school districts. These purposes commonly include the acquisition, financing, construction and operation of projects such as water supply and sewer systems, airports, transit systems, parking garages, flood control systems, parks, and similar entities. An authority may fix and collect rentals or other charges and may issue revenue bonds. A board appointed by the establishing government or governments governs each authority.
A municipal authority may be said to be an independent corporate agent of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, exercising governmental, as well as private corporate power, in assisting the Commonwealth in meeting the needs of its citizens. Most, but not all, municipal authorities operate under Pennsylvania's Municipality Authorities Act.
All these reasons were involved, for example, when the Northland Public Library Authority
was established to enable several municipalities to jointly own and operate a public library
. The authority acquired the land for a new library, borrowed the construction money, built the building, and now operates the library. Absent the municipal authority, matters of joint ownership, joint financing, and joint operational control could be so thorny as to prevent the library's development in the first place, let alone allowing it to operate in an effective and businesslike manner.
, which operates Pittsburgh International Airport
and Allegheny County Airport
, large sewer authorities in Allegheny
and Delaware
counties, and parking authorities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. There are also important parking authorities in Allentown
, Bethlehem
, Erie
, Harrisburg
, Lancaster
, Reading
and Scranton. Some authorities, such as the public transportation authorities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, operate under special legislation rather than the Municipality Authorities Act.
Special-purpose district
Special-purpose districts or special district governments in the United States are independent governmental units that exist separately from, and with substantial administrative and fiscal independence from, general purpose local governments such as county, municipal, and township governments. As...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The municipal authority is an alternate vehicle for accomplishing public purposes without the direct action of counties, municipalities and school districts. These purposes commonly include the acquisition, financing, construction and operation of projects such as water supply and sewer systems, airports, transit systems, parking garages, flood control systems, parks, and similar entities. An authority may fix and collect rentals or other charges and may issue revenue bonds. A board appointed by the establishing government or governments governs each authority.
A municipal authority may be said to be an independent corporate agent of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, exercising governmental, as well as private corporate power, in assisting the Commonwealth in meeting the needs of its citizens. Most, but not all, municipal authorities operate under Pennsylvania's Municipality Authorities Act.
Reasons for establishing municipal authorities
Common reasons for establishing municipal authorities include financing a project without tapping the general taxing or borrowing power of a municipality, facilitating the cooperative involvement of several municipalities in a project, and distancing the operation of a project from the political considerations inherent in direct municipal operation.All these reasons were involved, for example, when the Northland Public Library Authority
Northland Public Library
Northland Public Library is a public library serving Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Located in McCandless Township about eight miles north of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it is operated as a municipal authority supported by the residents of McCandless, Ross Township, the Borough of Franklin...
was established to enable several municipalities to jointly own and operate a public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
. The authority acquired the land for a new library, borrowed the construction money, built the building, and now operates the library. Absent the municipal authority, matters of joint ownership, joint financing, and joint operational control could be so thorny as to prevent the library's development in the first place, let alone allowing it to operate in an effective and businesslike manner.
Census of municipal authorities
In its 2002 Census of Governments, the U.S. Census Bureau listed 1,885 municipal authorities in Pennsylvania. Prominent among them are the Allegheny County Airport AuthorityAllegheny County Airport Authority
Allegheny County Airport Authority is a Municipal Authority in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania that oversees and maintains the Allegheny County airport system. These include management of Pittsburgh International Airport as well as Allegheny County Airport...
, which operates Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
and Allegheny County Airport
Allegheny County Airport
Allegheny County Airport is located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, four miles southeast of the city of Pittsburgh. It is the fifth busiest airport in Pennsylvania following Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Harrisburg...
, large sewer authorities in Allegheny
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
and Delaware
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
counties, and parking authorities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. There are also important parking authorities in Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
, Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
and Scranton. Some authorities, such as the public transportation authorities in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, operate under special legislation rather than the Municipality Authorities Act.
See also
- Special-purpose district
- Off-budget enterpriseOff-budget enterpriseOff-budget enterprises are a type of government in the United States, the UK and the EU. OBEs use public funds to further public or private interests...
- Public benefit corporationPublic benefit corporationA public-benefit corporation is a public corporation chartered by a state designed to perform some public benefit.A public authority is a type of public-benefit corporation that takes on a more bureaucratic role, such as the maintenance of public infrastructure, that often has broad powers to...
- Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation AuthorityPennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation AuthorityThe Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority is a special administrative body created by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to oversee the finances of the City of Philadelphia....
- Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation AuthorityPittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation AuthorityThe Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority is a special administrative body created by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to oversee the finances of the City of Pittsburgh.The Pittsburgh ICA was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly though the Intergovernmental...
- Port Authority of Allegheny CountyPort Authority of Allegheny CountyPort Authority of Allegheny County is the second-largest public transit agency in Pennsylvania and the 11th-largest in the United States. When considering that its service area is the 20th largest in the U.S...
- Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
- Allegheny County Sanitary AuthorityAllegheny County Sanitary AuthorityAllegheny County Sanitary Authority is a Municipal Authority in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania that provides wastewater treatment services to 83 communities, including the city of Pittsburgh. Its principal sewage treatment plant is along the Ohio River downstream from Pittsburgh...
Sources
- Municipal Authorities in Pennsylvania (PDF download of a 92-page handbook)
- Pennsylvania Legislators' Municipal Deskbook - Municipal Authorities
- Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act 53 Pa.C.S. § 5601 et seq.
- Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association
- U.S. Census Bureau 2002 Census of Governments
- The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic DevelopmentPennsylvania Department of Community and Economic DevelopmentPennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is a cabinet-level state agency in Pennsylvania.The Financially Distressed Municipalities Act , also known as Act 47, empowers the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to declare certain municipalities in...
has a page Municipal Authorities General Information which has three databases containing information about Pennsylvania municipal authorities.
External links
These links provide insight into various types of municipal authority:- Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority (Large wastewater management authority)
- List of Municipal Authorities in Allegheny County (100 Authorities with great diversity in size and function. Examples appear below.)
- Pittsburgh Parking Authority (Large parking authority)
- West View Water Authority (Medium-sized water supply authority)
- McCandless Township Sanitary Authority (Small sewer authority)
- Moon Township: Transportation Authority and Industrial Development Authority (Small ones)
- Ross-West View EMS Ambulance Authority (Multi-municipal ambulance authority)
- Avonworth Municipal Authority (Multi-municipal park authority)