DATE: October 1, 2007
TO: Homeowner Associations / Community Organizations / Property
Owners in the state of Pennsylvania
RE: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED
New Legislation in the
Pennsylvania House -
School Property Tax Elimination Act of
2007
Property owners in Pennsylvania need to be made
aware of new legislation that is being introduced in Harrisburg.
Savings would be very significant and this letter is an attempt to get a united
response!
This is NEW legislation and NOT something the public
has seen before. It is NOT another rebate plan nor does it
have any resemblance to past bills nor any tactics previously
mentioned during this administration.
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations is
requesting that you immediately contact your
home and business property owners about this legislation and also post this
information on your website or in your newsletter.
We are requesting that each property owner contact their state
Representative and Senator as well as the PA House leadership (Hon. H. William
DeWeese and the Hon. Keith R. McCall) and urge them to throw their full support
behind this bill when it comes before them.
Click>>Find
YOUR STATE REP
We all also requesting that everyone ALERT their friends, family, and
business contacts in other parts of the state and urge them to do the
same. Too many of our politicians are balking at changing the current
system and its vital they get feedback from the public. At times word of mouth
can be more effective than the media can.
The School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007 will be introduced any day
now in the Pennsylvania House. This is a brilliant piece of legislation
that has bipartisan support. For four years business experts, the public
and taxpayer groups from across the state have provided the insight and input to
this concept. Independent financial firms have determined it to be
financially sound. If passed, the overall savings to property owners will
be significant.
Highlights: (More) details, a Calculator, and
a tool to find your state Representatives/ Senator on www.PTCC.us
- Eliminates School Property Tax for homeowners and farmers; business
property owners get a 50% cut. Phased in over 4 years.
- Eliminates all school nuisance taxes.
- Eliminates local Earned Income Tax (EIT) collected for the school district
(normally 0.50%).
- Increases the state income tax by 0.55%.
- Broadens the current 6% sales tax so it covers a few more services.
- Creates a new separate but lower 3% sales tax for just clothing and
processed foods. (Fresh meat, produce, fruit, dairy, bread, food-stamp
purchases are not taxed).
- Loaded with common sense tax exemptions for families and businesses.
- All schools educational programs to be fully funded despite the local
area's ability to pay.
- The state will for the first time act as a check-and-balance on local
school boards spending habits.
- Removing the property tax dollar from the fight between municipalities and
school districts will allow true regional planning to address
sprawl and congestion.
For the past 4 years Harrisburg's Band-Aid approach to school property tax
reform has been pathetic. Little relief has been offered since only symptoms and
not the disease has been targeted. People have lost their homes yet
Harrisburg continues to play games. It is time we all unite to let our
representatives in this state know we want things fixed now!
This bill will provide the tax reform and relief that Pennsylvania
homeowners want and need, and much more.
Please forward this letter to other organizations in your area
if you agree this bill has merit.
Sincerely,
Mike Fogarty
VP Coatesville Taxpayers Alliance
Member of Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations and