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_ (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm) 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_ (http://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 Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition _www.PTCC.US_ (http://www.ptcc.us/) ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com