KUDOS TO THE HOUSE
Lately we have all been "hard" on the members of the House of Representatives for their inability to put forth meaningful property tax reform.
This past week the House made a "bold" move by postponing their vote on House Bill 39. Congratulations to them for having the guts to say "no". It would have been very easy for all of them to just vote "yes" to the bill and walk away from the issue. With the primary election right around the corner they could have all "fallen back" on the property tax relief that had just been passed. BUT THEY DID NOT!
This is not a ploy to interfere with Governor Rendell's election campaign. It is an honest attempt to come up with a plan for meaningful property tax reform.
Members of the special conference committee patted themselves on the back for coming up with what they titled "historical" property tax reform. Although this bill did increase the number of seniors who could qualify for relief it did nothing for the middle class homeowner or the seniors who did not meet the parameters for assistance as set forth by Harrisburg. As a matter of fact, this bill could do more harm than good for most PA homeowners. Even the seniors who do qualify for relief must understand that this bill does nothing to prohibit school boards from continuing to raise property taxes. You could receive relief this year only to find that your taxes rise by an amount that is greater than your relief. As long as control remains at the local school board level taxes will continue to spin out of control.
The special conference committee had the audacity to suggest that in 2007, by way of voter referendum, taxpayers have the opportunity to swap dollar for dollar school property tax for earned income tax. WHERE IS THE TAX RELIEF!!! Doesn't that just come down to who gets your check? Are you going to write the check to your local tax collector or have it withheld from your paycheck? The Governor, the special conference committee, and all the Senators who voted "yes" for this bill should be ashamed. It was nothing more than pandering votes from low income seniors for the primary in May!
Kudos to the House for at least postponing a junk bill. This should give legislators the opportunity to put together a plan that will provide some meaningful tax relief to all PA homeowners who desperately need help!
Now is the time for all PA homeowners to stand together and make their voice heard in Harrisburg. E-mail your elected officials and all Senators and Representatives and let them know that you need, and you demand, meaningful property tax reform.
For a complete listing of all legislator e-mail addresses contact nopropertytaxes@yahoo.com or go to www.dbta.org where all e-mail addresses are listed.
This past week the House made a "bold" move by postponing their vote on House Bill 39. Congratulations to them for having the guts to say "no". It would have been very easy for all of them to just vote "yes" to the bill and walk away from the issue. With the primary election right around the corner they could have all "fallen back" on the property tax relief that had just been passed. BUT THEY DID NOT!
This is not a ploy to interfere with Governor Rendell's election campaign. It is an honest attempt to come up with a plan for meaningful property tax reform.
Members of the special conference committee patted themselves on the back for coming up with what they titled "historical" property tax reform. Although this bill did increase the number of seniors who could qualify for relief it did nothing for the middle class homeowner or the seniors who did not meet the parameters for assistance as set forth by Harrisburg. As a matter of fact, this bill could do more harm than good for most PA homeowners. Even the seniors who do qualify for relief must understand that this bill does nothing to prohibit school boards from continuing to raise property taxes. You could receive relief this year only to find that your taxes rise by an amount that is greater than your relief. As long as control remains at the local school board level taxes will continue to spin out of control.
The special conference committee had the audacity to suggest that in 2007, by way of voter referendum, taxpayers have the opportunity to swap dollar for dollar school property tax for earned income tax. WHERE IS THE TAX RELIEF!!! Doesn't that just come down to who gets your check? Are you going to write the check to your local tax collector or have it withheld from your paycheck? The Governor, the special conference committee, and all the Senators who voted "yes" for this bill should be ashamed. It was nothing more than pandering votes from low income seniors for the primary in May!
Kudos to the House for at least postponing a junk bill. This should give legislators the opportunity to put together a plan that will provide some meaningful tax relief to all PA homeowners who desperately need help!
Now is the time for all PA homeowners to stand together and make their voice heard in Harrisburg. E-mail your elected officials and all Senators and Representatives and let them know that you need, and you demand, meaningful property tax reform.
For a complete listing of all legislator e-mail addresses contact nopropertytaxes@yahoo.com or go to www.dbta.org where all e-mail addresses are listed.
posted by Helen | 4:57 PM
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