On July 17, Representative David Levdansky (D-39, Allegheny/Washington) introduced House Bill 1600, another valueless, fraudulent property tax “relief” measure.
HB 1600 is exactly the same as the Act 1 referendum that was resoundingly thrashed at the polls in May. It imposes a 0.5% increase in the sales tax and a .22% increase in the state income tax in return for an approximate $525 homestead exemption. The legislators who support this bill are telling us that it will offer an average 40%-50% reduction in property taxes, but this is simply more smoke and mirrors to try to gain taxpayer acceptance and is patently misleading.
HB 1600 is based on EXACTLY the same principle as the Act 1 tax shift. It imposes new, permanent taxes in exchange for minimal temporary “relief” that will quickly be eaten up by relentlessly rising property taxes. HB 1600 will not only leave taxpayers with their same burdensome property tax bills plus additional new taxes, it also will do nothing to address the antiquated, crumbling education finance system, the cost of education, or equitable funding for public schools. It is another valueless band-aid approach that will again leave PA homeowners without true, effective property tax reform. Further, unlike the Act 1 referendum where voters had a voice in rejecting the measure, this bill can be enacted and jammed down our throats with no input whatsoever from taxpayers.
The arrogance of these legislators who think that they can throw the same old plan at us that has failed three times in the past and still expect us to fall for their charade is pitiful. Their utter disregard for the intelligence of PA taxpayers is incomprehensible and insulting.
The biggest concern with HB 1600 is that if it is enacted the legislature will tell us that they have given us property tax relief and nothing more will be done for the foreseeable future. As much as they like to tell us that this is another “first step”, if HB 1600 passes it will be the last step towards true education finance reform for a very long time.
If you want to fight this measure, our legislators must be told unequivocally that we WILL NOT tolerate any more of their misguided halfway measures. Contact Representative Stan Saylor and ask him to continue to support property tax ELIMINATION when the School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007 is introduced. Further, request that he absolutely reject House Bill 1600 as another inadequate attempt at property tax relief. If you have friends/family in other areas of the State and they do not know their Representative’s contact information, it is available by Zip+4 at http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm .
