Anglers could be on the hook for Pennsylvania's public pensions

It’s no big fish story: Pennsylvania’s growing public pension obligations could soon hook anglers across the state.

Lawmakers are considering increasing fishing license and permit fees for the first time since 2005 as the state Fish and Boat Commission trolls for about $9.1 million in revenue to sustain core operations while paying for ballooning retirement and health care costs. Nearly $7.5 million alone is needed to pay for upcoming pension obligations, said John Arway, executive director of the commission.

Under a proposal authored by state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-Allegheny, the increases would apply to the 2017 license year. The annual resident license fee would rise from $21 to $26.25 and annual senior licenses would increase from $10 to $12.50, both 25 percent hikes.

Like the seemingly always rising school property taxes, the prospect of more expensive fishing licenses is a tangible reminder of Pennsylvania’s pension problem. The state, as of this spring, had piled up about $60 billion in public pension debt after shortchanging its annual contributions for years.

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