Lehigh Times

HARRISBURG – The Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, chaired by Sen. Jarrett Coleman (R-16), voted today to subpoena Revenue Secretary Pat Browne, a cabinet official of Gov. Josh Shapiro, to obtain tax information about the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ).

“The sources of the Allentown NIZ’s revenues, the way it uses the money and the effectiveness of the program seem to be shrouded in mystery,” Coleman said. “It’s hard to determine the value of a program when its financial records remain largely hidden and secretive.”

The subpoena is part of Coleman's ongoing efforts to bring transparency and accountability to the Allentown NIZ, which has benefitted from more than $500 million in taxpayer investments over the past decade.

The subpoena demands that Browne and the Department of Revenue provide a comprehensive breakdown of state taxes collected through the Allentown NIZ. Coleman has sought this information to aid legislators in making policy decisions regarding the effectiveness of the NIZ.

Efforts to obtain this tax information began in March 2023, when Coleman made two official requests—on March 6 and March 29—to the Department of Revenue. Browne denied both requests.

Coleman introduced Senate Resolution 110, calling on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to conduct a performance audit of the Allentown NIZ. The Senate unanimously approved this resolution on Dec. 13, 2023, and LBFC accepted the assignment.

The LBFC made multiple attempts—on April 15, May 9, June 5, and June 6—to obtain tax information from the Department of Revenue but was refused all requested data.

“The department’s arguments about taxpayer confidentiality are a smokescreen because no data about individual taxpayers has been requested and confidentiality will be maintained,” Coleman said. “The secretary is going to extraordinary lengths to hide this information from legislators and the people we represent. When this much effort is put into preventing people from seeing what’s going on, it casts a cloud of suspicion over the program and those responsible for properly using half-billion dollars in tax money."

Coleman emphasized that obtaining this information is crucial for determining whether "the program is a success or an expensive boondoggle."

Browne has been given until 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, to provide the requested tax information.

Residents interested in learning more about Sen. Jarrett Coleman can visit his website at www.SenatorColeman.com or follow him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SenatorJarrettColeman.

CONTACT: Leo Knepper