Legislation to End Wasteful Spending at Vacant State Centers in White Haven, Hamburg, Polk Approved by Senate

HARRISBURG - Due to concerns about decades of bureaucratic inactivity and the waste of millions of taxpayer dollars at the state-owned White Haven Center, Hamburg Center, and Polk Center, the Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation introduced by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48), and Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-21) to move the issue forward by a bipartisan vote of 47-3.

"Spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars each year maintaining these three properties with their future uncertain is completely irresponsible," said Argall. "They should be returned to the tax rolls and providing jobs for local people as soon as humanly possible, without unending bureaucratic delays."

Without community or legislative input, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services shut down the Hamburg Center in 2018 and the White Haven and Polk centers in 2023. Since then, these centers have sat mostly unused and empty, leaving taxpayers on the hook for millions every year to maintain empty buildings.

"It is unsettling to see how the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the Pennsylvania Department of General Services had no real plan in place when these properties closed," said Gebhard. "This legislation is the much-needed spur to get the redevelopment conversations going."

According to the Pennsylvania Department of General Services, carryover costs for all three properties during the 2023-24 fiscal year totaled $28.1 million - $8.9 million for the White Haven Center, $3.9 million for the Hamburg Center, and $15.3 million for the Polk Center.

"The closure of Polk, Hamburg, and White Haven state centers by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services highlights a troubling absence of foresight," remarked Hutchinson. "Dismantling vital services without a clear, compassionate plan for the future leaves both residents and communities in a state of uncertainty and neglect."

Senate Bill 1277 demands a detailed plan from the Pennsylvania Department of General Services on how it will repurpose these three properties. Under the bill, the department must also provide the legislature with the yearly costs of each property since the institutions were closed, expected costs associated with each property if they are not sold, and costs relating to the demolition or refurbishment of the buildings at each property.

The senators highlighted the example of the former Allentown State Hospital as the worst-case scenario if action is not taken. Closed in 2010, the state spent approximately $2.2 million each year for 10 years for upkeep and security until ultimately razing it in 2020 for an additional $12.7 million - a total of about $34.7 million. Through inaction, the state nearly tripled the amount of taxpayer dollars wasted.

Senate Bill 1277 now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

CONTACT: Jim Brugger (Argall)
Alex Gamble (Gebhard)
Justin Leventry (Hutchinson)