Last month, Senator Fontana joined officials from Neville Township and representatives of JLS Land Properties and Burns & Scalo for a groundbreaking at the former Dravo Headquarters building. The building is being demolished to open up 8.5 acres of industrial property and build upon Neville Island’s recent economic development boost in that corridor.

It’s Almost Tax Time

While April 15th may seem a long way away, Pennsylvania is ready for its taxpayers to file their annual returns and is again offering electronic returns for the 2009 tax year. Last year, 3.5 million taxpayers, or 58 % of all taxpayers, filed state income tax returns electronically. Electronic filing is the most cost-effective filing method, saving the state about $3.49 per return. Electronic filing offers advantages to taxpayers not available to those filing by paper, such as error-reducing automatic calculators, instant confirmation of successful filing, faster refund processing and direct deposit options. The department offers two, free electronic tax filing options: TeleFile (1-888-4PAFILE) and pa.direct.file, available through www.revenue.state.pa.us.

The three primary state tax forms are the PA-40 Income Tax Booklet, the Fast File Booklet and the payment voucher letter. All mailed state tax forms should arrive in taxpayers’ mailboxes by early February. The Revenue Department drastically reduced the number of forms it prints and mails this tax season to reflect taxpayer filing preferences and reduce costs. As always, my office will also have state and federal forms available beginning next month.

…And That’s Not All!

My office provides a variety of services including a free notary, expedited PennDOT work, applications and forms, free publications and more. Stop in and meet the staff too - they can provide information on the LIHEAP Program, help you fill out a Property Tax & Rent Rebate Form, or just provide other assistance in cutting through red tape at the state level. For more information on the services provided, visit my website at www.senatorfontana.com.

R.I.P. Vic Cianca

On January 24th, the Brookline neighborhood and the entire Pittsburgh community lost a true icon with the death of Victor “Vic” Cianca. A City of Pittsburgh traffic cop, Mr. Cianca made Pittsburgh drivers go out of their way to get into traffic just so they could be directed with broad gestures and theatrical faces by a man who celebrated his true calling for the job. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family on their loss.

Fontana Fact!

The first labor union in Pittsburgh was formed in January 1836 when printers organized as the “Journeymen Printers of Pittsburgh.”