State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, who represents Chester County, is circulating a plan to protect Philadelphia region tax revenue and prevent future SEPTA-style funding disputes, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.
Shusterman believes southeastern Pennsylvania should be making decisions regarding its own state tax revenue if rural Republican legislators end up refusing to fully fund SEPTA.
“We are not okay with our tax dollars going to the rest of the state while we face those cuts,” said Shusterman.
SEPTA is set to reduce service by 20 percent on Aug. 24, marking its first round of cuts after lawmakers failed to pass the state budget on time.
Shusterman’s plan would divide Pennsylvania’s 67 counties into three economic categories, with each group sharing its portion of collected state tax revenue to fund items in Harrisburg budget negotiations, such as public transportation.
She illustrated how the groups would be formed in a memo last week, which she noted that she had not wanted to circulate.
“Our back is against the wall,” she said. “Southeast Pennsylvania brings in 40 percent of the revenue for the state, and SEPTA – mass transit – it’s our backbone.”
Read more about Rep. Melissa Shusterman’s plan that aims to protect the region from future funding disputes in WHYY.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on VISTA.Today in August 2025.
