In response to the inaction of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives concerning the Emergency and Municipal Services (EMS) tax, State College Borough Council decided last night to use an extra $400,000 raised during the past year for borough projects.

The Borough Council had increased real estate taxes to compensate for the anticipated loss of revenue -- $400,000 -- if the resolution had been approved. However, the House adjourned in 2005 without passing the amendment.

The amendment, which is still under consideration, would increase the minimum exemption level for the EMS tax from $5,600 a year to $12,000 a year, Borough Council member Elizabeth Goreham said.

That would only allow the borough to collect from people who earn more than $12,000 a year.

The borough collects $52 from each person working in the municipality and from employees of the borough's school districts.

If the House passes the amendment before March 1, they're going to compensate for the tax. If the House passes it after that date, council will apply the extra $400,000 towards borough programs, Goreham said.