Request Assistance
In addition to providing funding support to local governments, the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services provides municipalities and local government officials with assistance and support in a variety of areas.
Formal Request for Assistance – Requests for technical assistance on a variety of issues can be submitted through the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, including intergovernmental requests, single municipal requests and county requests. To submit a request, download or print a copy of the Letter of Intent (pdf).
A municipality or group of municipalities requesting Technical Assistance should complete and officially approve a Letter of Intent and return it to the Center. Municipalities considering such a request are encouraged to consult with the Center's staff prior to submission of the request. The Letter of Intent should be submitted to:
Governor's Center for Local Government Services
Commonwealth Keystone Building, 4th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225.
Act 47, Municipalities Financial Recovery Act – Aid for financially distressed local governments in formulating financial recovery plans as well as providing funding through loans and grants. View a list of Act 47 municipalities and available recovery plans.
Cooperative Purchasing – The Commonwealth’s cooperative purchasing program, COSTARS, provides local officials with information on the state's purchasing programs.
Elected and Appointed Officials – Defining roles and responsibilities to newly elected and appointed officials.
Finance – Matters of budgeting, accounting, tax collection, auditing and fiscal management.
GASB 34 – The Government Accounting Standards Board's statement, GASB 34, changes financial reporting practices for local governments.
Intergovernmental Cooperation – Assists and promotes collaborative efforts between and among local governments resulting in more effective and efficient delivery of municipal services.
Local Government Unit Debt Act – Procedures for Pennsylvania's local government units to issue debt and tax anticipation notes. Also provides the borrowing limits for the local government units.
Peer-to-Peer Management Program – On-site professional peer consultants that review municipal operations, provide recommendations and assist in their implementation. Peers are usually local officials with special knowledge and expertise on a particular issue. There is no cost to the municipality for this service.
Police – Aid in police regionalization, complement and management to municipal police agencies. Also, the Regional Police Assistance Grant Program provides grants for the start-up of consolidated police departments for a period of up to three years. This grant program is funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency in coordination with the Center.
Public Administration – General administrative and organizational matters of local government operations.
Public Risk Management – Municipal insurance and public risk management to local government officials.
Public Works Technical Assistance Program – Provides technical advice to municipalities in public works operations, including sharing public works functions with neighboring communities. The Center, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Local Roads Program (LTAP), initiated this public works peer-consulting program.
Uniform Construction Code – Act 13 of 2004 specifically designates the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services as the lead agency for information and technical assistance relating to code enforcement legislation. In response to this mandate, the Center has formed the Pennsylvania Construction Codes Academy, which provides certification training and educational workshops.
Volunteer Fire – The Center provides assistance to foster improved relations between municipal officials and volunteer fire departments and feasibility studies for consolidating fire services.
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee issued a report (HR 148 Report) examining volunteer fire company partnerships across Pennsylvania. Included in this informative document is a variety of statistics and information about volunteer fire services. Also, the report discusses how to build partnerships designed to increase recruitment, retention, and achieve efficiencies within the fire service. Also, access The HR 148 Report Condensed Version highlighting the report's Executive Summary and the Case Studies.
Local Government Frequently Asked Questions – Check here for answers to common questions about audits, budgets, debt, elections, meetings, taxation, and more.