Uniting of Taxpayer Groups
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2006
Contact: Cheryl Zaleski, email: czaleski@casdtaxpayeralliance.com
Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations Demands Repeal of Act 1
Harrisburg, PA—Sixteen taxpayer advocacy groups from across the Commonwealth met for the first time at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg on Friday, 21 July 2006, uniting to denounce the recently enacted Act 1.
Through four hours of discussion and debate, they unanimously resolved to demand the immediate repeal of Act 1, the Governor’s and Legislature’s version of property tax relief.
Citing the fact that the Act gives only the lowest income senior citizens a mere $150 increase in property tax relief, while ignoring the rest of the property owners in the state who pay astronomically high property tax bills, the Coalition wants everyone to realize the massive fraud that has been perpetrated on the people of Pennsylvania.
“Ed Rendell claims this Act represents $1 billion in property tax relief. He is lying,” stated Cheryl Zaleski, spokesperson for the Coalition. “Property tax relief is supposed to be funded with future gaming revenues from slot machines. The gaming fund begins $300 million in debt thanks to Rendell’s pandering for the senior citizen vote, and a whole host of statewide programs must be funded before an accumulation of $400 million exists for initial distribution to property owners statewide. This will take years and years to achieve.”
“In the meantime, school property taxes continue to rise well above the rate of inflation, the exceptions given to permit school boards the ability to avoid voter referendum render the concept of the people controlling expenditures meaningless, and the Legislature expects everyone to pay an increased local EIT. These increases wipe out close to all savings the vast majority of homesteaders are targeted to receive whenever the gaming distribution begins. In short, the ‘property tax relief’ the Governor is championing is nothing more than another Rendell tax increase for the overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians.”
The Coalition wants the Legislature to focus on property tax reform. The goal is to eliminate school district property taxes for primary residences, at minimum, and fund public schools with state revenues. Some coalition members advocate the elimination of all school district property taxes while some want to eliminate all primary residential property taxes.
The Coalition also recognizes that no matter what the funding source is for education, it needs cost controls. Another resolution passed by the Coalition supports a bill sponsored by State Representative Will Gabig. It will end teacher strikes in Pennsylvania and seeks the support of state legislators as co-sponsors to demonstrate their support for children and working families in Pennsylvania.
(End Release)
For additional information contact nopropertytaxes@yahoo.com or visit www.dbta.org
July 22, 2006
Contact: Cheryl Zaleski, email: czaleski@casdtaxpayeralliance.com
Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations Demands Repeal of Act 1
Harrisburg, PA—Sixteen taxpayer advocacy groups from across the Commonwealth met for the first time at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg on Friday, 21 July 2006, uniting to denounce the recently enacted Act 1.
Through four hours of discussion and debate, they unanimously resolved to demand the immediate repeal of Act 1, the Governor’s and Legislature’s version of property tax relief.
Citing the fact that the Act gives only the lowest income senior citizens a mere $150 increase in property tax relief, while ignoring the rest of the property owners in the state who pay astronomically high property tax bills, the Coalition wants everyone to realize the massive fraud that has been perpetrated on the people of Pennsylvania.
“Ed Rendell claims this Act represents $1 billion in property tax relief. He is lying,” stated Cheryl Zaleski, spokesperson for the Coalition. “Property tax relief is supposed to be funded with future gaming revenues from slot machines. The gaming fund begins $300 million in debt thanks to Rendell’s pandering for the senior citizen vote, and a whole host of statewide programs must be funded before an accumulation of $400 million exists for initial distribution to property owners statewide. This will take years and years to achieve.”
“In the meantime, school property taxes continue to rise well above the rate of inflation, the exceptions given to permit school boards the ability to avoid voter referendum render the concept of the people controlling expenditures meaningless, and the Legislature expects everyone to pay an increased local EIT. These increases wipe out close to all savings the vast majority of homesteaders are targeted to receive whenever the gaming distribution begins. In short, the ‘property tax relief’ the Governor is championing is nothing more than another Rendell tax increase for the overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians.”
The Coalition wants the Legislature to focus on property tax reform. The goal is to eliminate school district property taxes for primary residences, at minimum, and fund public schools with state revenues. Some coalition members advocate the elimination of all school district property taxes while some want to eliminate all primary residential property taxes.
The Coalition also recognizes that no matter what the funding source is for education, it needs cost controls. Another resolution passed by the Coalition supports a bill sponsored by State Representative Will Gabig. It will end teacher strikes in Pennsylvania and seeks the support of state legislators as co-sponsors to demonstrate their support for children and working families in Pennsylvania.
(End Release)
For additional information contact nopropertytaxes@yahoo.com or visit www.dbta.org
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