North Lancaster News

HARRISBURG – Sens. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) have put forward a proposal to enhance transparency in the mandatory taxpayer funding of newspaper advertisements by local governments. The announcement was made during Sunshine Week 2024, a period dedicated to celebrating openness in government operations.

The senators highlighted the need for newspapers to disclose the expenses incurred by local authorities for legal advertising and public notices. Sen. Phillips-Hill emphasized the importance of informing the public about government actions, stating, "Mandatory advertising by governments at all levels serves a purpose to keep people well-informed of actions and proposed actions by their government – but at a steep and hidden cost to taxpayers."

Sen. Aument pointed out the lack of awareness among Lancaster County residents regarding their tax dollars supporting local newspapers, stating, "Most Lancaster County residents don’t know that their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are currently subsidizing our local newspapers due to an outdated mandate."

The proposed legislation aims to shed light on the financial burden placed on taxpayers and local governing bodies due to mandated advertising. Sen. Aument remarked, "This Sunshine Week, we want to bring greater transparency to this process so that taxpayers and local governing entities alike are aware of how their tax dollars are being spent."

According to a study by the Local Government Commission, local governments in Pennsylvania currently spend over $28 million on mandated advertising, with costs continuing to rise. Sen. Phillips-Hill and Sen. Aument advocate for increased transparency to allow taxpayers to understand the allocation of their funds and provide public officials with insight into the expenses incurred by other governmental entities.

The senators are rallying for support for their proposed measure, which will be officially introduced in the near future. They underscore the importance of transparency in all taxpayer-funded advertisements in newspapers across the state, aligning with the longstanding commitment to openness in government operations.

Increased transparency in critical areas, such as government operations, has been a persistent objective for newspapers. Sen. Phillips-Hill and Sen. Aument are determined to instill the same level of accountability in all advertisements financed by taxpayer dollars in newspapers statewide.