HARRISBURG – A resolution authored by Senators David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks) and Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny) received the unanimous support of the Senate State Government Committee, chaired by Senator Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon/Dauphin/York), to evaluate current practices of real estate utilization policies with state owned and leased properties.
Argall and Vulakovich introduced the resolution after learning of several vacant and underutilized properties owned and leased by the state. Senate Resolution 215 requires the Joint State Government Commission to review utilization and procurement of state owned and leased office space, storage facilities, garages, and other property. The study will also compare procedures utilized in the private sector and other entities in leasing, acquisition and management of property.
“The state has seen a decline in public employees over the last three decades,” Argall said. “This resolution will provide us with a blueprint of where the biggest opportunities exist for saving valuable tax dollars as well the most efficient use of real estate utilization.”
“I am very happy to be working with Senator Argall on this issue, which I believe will save the Commonwealth money in this difficult budget time,” Vulakovich said. “I would also like to extend thanks to Senator Folmer for voting the resolution out of the State Government Committee. I look forward to the study’s findings and working to incorporate them into legislation to make permeant, long term reforms to how the state procures and manages our facilities.”