Upcoming Events

Upcoming Property Tax Rent Rebate Events 
Thursday, March 6th, 1-3pm, RJ Corbett Apartments, 175 Corbett Court
Thursday, March 13th, 1-3pm, Towne North Towers, 99 Corbett Court

I will be hosting two Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) events with Rep. Emily Kinkead for the residents of Corbett Court and Town North Towers apartments in March! The PTRR program provides rebates of up to $1000 on property tax or rent paid the previous year by income-eligible seniors and people with disabilities.

Renters and homeowners are eligible for the PTRR program if they meet the following criteria:

• Income is less than $46,520 (program only counts half of Social Security income); 
• Age requirements:
  • age 65 and older;
  • or age 50 and older and a widow/widower;
  • or age 18 and older and disabled.

Bring the following to the event and a member of our staff will complete your online PTRR application for you!

• Proof of Identity (first time filers only)
• All 2024 income documents: Social Security, retirement funds, or other interest bearing accounts.
• Completed PA rent certificate from your landlord.
• Bank account and routing information if you would like direct deposit.

If you have questions do not hesitate to call our offices: 412-364-0469 Sen. Williams or 412-331-5523 Rep. Kinkead.

For more information on the PTRR program go to: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/incentives-credits-and-programs/ptrr.html

Good News

Fire and EMS Grants Awarded!

Our volunteer fire companies and emergency medical services agencies throughout Senate District 38 were awarded more than $807,000 in operational grant funding last week.

These grants were made possible by the 2024-25 Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program. Grantees can use the funds for facility construction or repair, equipment purchase or repair, debt reduction associated with facility or equipment, training and certification of members, and materials for fire prevention education for the general public.

Our EMS companies and volunteer fire departments spend countless hours fundraising to provide top-quality, lifesaving services to their community members every single day.  This annual grant program provides some operations funding for our first responders, but grant amounts have not kept up with rising costs facing these mostly volunteer departments. The state must do more to help departments meet today’s challenges, and that includes incentivizing and funding mergers of services where it makes fiscal and practical sense.

For a complete list of grantees throughout the district go to:  https://senatorlindseywilliams.com/sen-lindsey-williams-announces-over-800k-in-grant-funding-for-local-ems-and-fire-companies/

Recognizing Deer Lakes School District

On Tuesday night, my staff joined the Deer Lakes School District to celebrate their recognition as a Great Pennsylvania School! This designation recognizes Pennsylvania public schools that provide students with access to rigorous programming, are community-centric, demonstrate financial well-being and display resilience. 

Congratulations to the entire Deer Lakes student body, faculty, staff, and community on this well-deserved award!

Legislative Update

Protecting Pennsylvania Taxpayer Dollars from Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

My colleague Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill and I will be reintroducing the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Act this legislative session. This bill encourages private citizens to come forward as whistleblowers to report the filing of false or fraudulent claims against the Pennsylvania government in order to protect taxpayer dollars. 

We know that 44% of waste, fraud, and abuse of government funds is found by tip– by someone who knows what is happening being brave enough to come forward and tell what they know. We all like to think that we would speak up in that situation. But I know from my experience at the National Whistleblowers Center and as a whistleblower myself that it is extremely hard to speak truth to power when your job, your health insurance, and your financial stability are on the line. By protecting these whistleblowers from retaliation, we can ensure that they feel safe coming forward and reporting the waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money.

Budget Hearings started this week in both the House and Senate for the 2025-26 Budget. But once again, we in the General Assembly are negotiating how to spend billions of taxpayer dollars without the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Act, which will protect those dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse. Protecting and encouraging whistleblowers to come forward is the best and most effective way to prevent fraud and protect our tax dollars.

News You Can Use

Turnpike Scam Text Alert!

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is warning residents about a “smishing” scam targeting drivers. If you receive a text message claiming to be from the PA Turnpike or other tolling authority asking for payment of an unpaid toll invoice (see graphic above), do not respond or click any links within the message. These fraudulent texts are designed to steal your personal and financial information.

What You Should Do if You Receive a Scam Text:

1. Verify your account:

• Log in to your E-ZPass account to check your toll balance and other personal information.
• Call the PA Turnpike at 1-877-736-6727 (M—F, 8am to 6pm).
• Visit the official E-ZPass website: https://www.paturnpike.com/e-zpass.
• Use the official PA Toll Pay app, available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

2. Don’t click on links:
   Never click on links or download attachments in unsolicited messages from unknown parties claiming to be the PA Turnpike or any tolling agency. Always verify by visiting the official website or using trusted contact information.

3. Take action if you’ve shared information:
   If you clicked a link or provided personal information, immediately take steps to secure your accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges with your bank or financial institution.

4. Don't be pressured:
   Legitimate businesses will never pressure you to act immediately. Always take your time when dealing with financial matters.

Important to Know:

• The PA Turnpike Commission will never send unsolicited text messages demanding payment or requesting money via links, apps like Zelle or Venmo, or other payment services.
• The PA Turnpike does work with two authorized debt collection agencies—Harris & Harris and TSI—but only customers with significant overdue balances will receive texts from them. These legitimate texts will always include the agency’s name, company details, and specific account information.

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Message:

If you receive a fraudulent text, email, or message, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at: https://www.ic3.gov/.

For more information about this scam and how to protect yourself, visit the PA Turnpike’s Security and Fraud page: https://www.paturnpike.com/about-us/security-fraud.

PHEAA February Financial Aid Webinars

Need help navigating the financial aid process for higher education? Attend one of the upcoming Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) webinars that help students and their families understand their options.

• Advance Planning for Financing Higher Education: Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m. This one-hour session helps participants understand education costs and what resources are available to help them plan and make affordable decisions.

• Improve Your Credit – Get Your Loan: Thursday, Feb. 27, at noon. 

This one-hour session will help participants increase their financial literacy and knowledge on the process of credit, how to maintain or improve ratings, and comparison points to help make informed and affordable education borrowing decisions.

Webinars on financial aid timelines and understanding offer letters are scheduled in March. 

For the complete list of webinars and to register in advance go to  www.pheaa.org/virtual.

Shape the Future of McCandless Parks – Take the Master Plan Survey

The Town of McCandless is developing a Master Plan for the future of its parks, focusing on development, connectivity, and community programming. This is your chance to influence the direction of McCandless’ recreational spaces and ensure they meet the needs of your community for years to come.

If you're a McCandless resident, don’t miss out on this opportunity to have your voice heard.

Take the survey now by scanning the QR code above or visit:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NK5W5HL

The survey will be open until March 11, so be sure to share your thoughts before the deadline!

Winter Scavenger Hunt in Your County Parks

Tired of spending your days inside this winter? Bundle up for a fun outdoor adventure courtesy of your Allegheny County Parks! The rangers have curated a Winter Scavenger Hunt list and guide on a new blog post that shares everything you need to know to participate. Participants can also post about their experiences on the blog.

For the blog post’s downloadable scavenger hunt list and suggestions for trails and open spaces in all nine county parks go to: https://acparksfoundation.org/winter-scavenger-hunt/.