Bucks state senators diverge on SEPTA funding move – Bucks Round-Up – August 13, 2025
Bucks state senators diverge on SEPTA funding move
During Monday’s special legislative session on the issue of SEPTA funding, the State Senate passed a measure calling for transit spending to the tune of $2.4 billion that is not being used, according to Republican Bucks County State Senator Frank Farry. “With that funding, $300 million would be transferred for each of the next two years out of that transit funding that’s sitting in a bank account in Harrisburg to fund transit agencies across this Commonwealth, while not raiding the state’s general fund, which is in a structural deficit just like SEPTA,” he said. “These vital funds, just sitting in this bank account, could be available to our transit agencies today.” Democratic Bucks County State Senator Steve Santarsiero railed against the measure. “The vast majority of that $2.4 billion has already been spoken for capital projects throughout the commonwealth and some of those projects are fore SEPTA,” he said. “So essentially it is like taking money out of the right hand of SEPTA and putting it in the left pocket.” SEPTA has announced it will vastly reduce its service on August 24 if it does not get the funding it needs. New schedules will be put in place on Thursday. Fare hikes will start in September and January of 2026.
Community College VP is out over CB West break-in
Albert McLaughlin, a 47-year-old Doylestown Borough resident recently hired as an interim vice president at Bucks County Community College, is no longer employed there owing to the allegation he broke into Central Bucks West High School on August 3. Authorities say McLaughlin took a shower and stole food, clothing, a backpack, and a coffee mug from CB West that morning. He was on the job at BCCC for les than a month and now faces felony burglary and related misdemeanor charges. Officers took him to Bucks County Correctional Facility and a court set his bail at 10% of $100,000.
Taxpayers asking for, and may get, a referendum in PSD
The Pennsbury School Board’s push to build a new high school has been one of its top initiatives over the last year and it has become contentious. The board has cited the age of both portions of the high school as one of the main reasons for a new school. While the board has been busy trying to hire contractors for construction through the bidding process, many taxpayers in the district have been equally steadfast in their opposition to the project. Residents who regularly attend the school board meetings have questioned the likelihood of cost overruns and property tax increases they believe will follow as a result of building a new school. Several residents have asked for a referendum under ACT 34. A recently released report states that if an additional $4 million is added to the current $211 million-plus for construction, a referendum would be required. The total project amount has been capped at more than $269 million. The Pennsbury School Board will hold a special meeting on the issues concerning costs September 4.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
