Bob Logue

PENNSYLVANIA HOMEOWNERS ARE ‘UNAPPRECIATED’ AND IT IS COSTING US BILLIONS

Home ownership is promoted by the government as a good investment and an outstanding way to accumulate wealth. But, thanks to Governor Ed Rendell and some of our legislators….that is not necessarily true in Pennsylvania.

In many areas of the commonwealth, homeowners are not seeing the value of their properties increase. What’s worse, in some areas of Pennsylvania real estate property values are declining. Homeowners in other states are enjoying substantial increases in property values, while Pennsylvanians are lucky to even break even.

Major contributing factors are: High property taxes and stagnant population growth. High property taxes are forcing people to sell homes they would rather keep; causing people to flee from higher tax counties to lower tax counties, or relocate to lower tax states. High property taxes also disqualify many potential home buyers from purchasing a home because they cannot afford the monthly tax escrow payment on top of their monthly principal and interest payment on their mortgage.

Stagnant population growth means less of a demand for those homes that are on the market. We hear repeatedly of people who are selling their homes for less than they originally paid, or without an increase in value to overcome inflation increases while they owned their property.

Homeowners therefore are bombarded with ever increasing property taxes while they own their home—paying a disproportionate share of the school, county and municipal burden; and then feel fortunate if they can break even when selling their home.

The STOP Primary protection plan—proved fiscally sound and workable in a study by the respected, bi-partisan Pennsylvania Budget & Finance Committee, the state’s fiscal experts—abolishes ALL property taxes (school, county and municipal) on all primary residences (homesteads\farmsteads). We propose replacing the lost tax revenue through a combination of modest sales and income tax increases.

Enactment of the STOP legislation by constitutional amendment will prevent a future legislature from ever reinstating property taxes on primary residences without a vote by the citizens. The legislation will create an economic boom; it will dramatically cut the size and cost of government in assessment offices thus saving taxpayers tens of millions of dollars across the state; will stop the outmigration of our citizens since more people will stay in our state, or relocate here; it will cut the size of government in the county assessment offices saving Pennsylvania taxpayers tens of millions of dollars; and create thousands of jobs as homeowners will undertake home improvements, and new construction without fear of increases in property taxes.

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW INCLUDING YOUR LEGISLATORS, MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY OFFICIALS. AND BE SURE TO VOTE NO THIS MAY ON THE PROPERTY TAX REFERENDUM BEING PLACED ON THE BALLOT BY YOUR SCHOOL BOARD AS ORDERED BY GOVERNOR RENDELL AND THE LEGISLATURE.

For more information visit the STOP Website at www.grandoldusa.com --Bob Logue, STOP.
ucblogue@verizon.net or visit the STOP Page at our Undercover Club Website at www.spedunkie.com

Visitor Comments:

Joe Lehigh County says :
The Northwestern Lehigh School Board is attempting to increase our school tax by 6.6%. One would think that they would abide by the rate of inflation. This figure was not given during the February Board meeting. The School Board authorized the Business Aministrator and the Solicitor to seek referendum exceptions from the Board of Education. Our elected representatives provided the loophole, and School Boards are taking full advantage, at the expense of the community.
Anonymous says :
Your right! It's absurd!

here in Allegheny PCOunty the assessment process is illegal and flawed! I recently bought my house for $52,000 and it's assesed at $66,000. My assessment sould be $52,000! the county is ripping me off and i have nothign I can do because taxes are assesed on a "Base Year" here of 2002 numbers. thats such bull crap, i'm sick of paying more than my fair share. I should be protected under the equal protection clause.
There are people who have high dollar homes that are assesed way under marlet value. Just becasue we dont like in a wealthy neighborhood or upscale development, doesnt mean we should pay a higher tax rate!!!!!
Check the real estate websites like Howard Hanna and Northwood, and you'll see that ALL of the nicer homes are selling for twice or three times what the County has them assesed at for taxes!!!!
Absolutley UNFAIR to folks like me!!!
JIMGRAYSON says :
OUR FAMILY IS IN THE SAME BOAT AS THE ABOVE POSTER.
WE BOUGHT OUR MODEST HOME IN THE SOUTH HILLS AREA ON THE OPEN MARKET FOR UNDER ITS TAX ASSESED VALUE, WE FELT LIKE WE WERE GETTING A GOOD DEAL. WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO RAISE TWO WONDERFUL CHILDREN (NOT IN ELEM. SCHOOL YET) ON DUAL INCOMES, AND WE'RE BEING FLEECED REGARDING PROPERTY TAXES.
IF WE HAD TO DO IT AGAIN, WE SHOULDNT HAVE BOUGHT A HOUSE THAT WAS OVERASSESED BY THE COUNTY, AND BOUGHT SOMETHING THAT WAS UNDERASSESED INSTEAD. MUCH LIKE 80% OF THE PROPERTIES OUT THERE ON THE MARKET. THE OTHER 20% OF US GET THE SHAFT! BIG TIME!
Anonymous says :
Your representatives are not doing what they were elected for, otherwise property taxes would have been elimiated by now and replace with a tax that is more fair to everyone.
Term limits would help insure that representative serve the people instead of themselves.
Pericles says :
School districts remain unrestrained, thanks to the general assembly. It is always easier for them to raise taxes rather than having the guts to take on health care costs, teacher unions, waste and abuse.
Anonymous says :
Not one legislator has suggested legislation mandating a 5% cut in school district spending. That, combined with a one year freeze and a 1% cap on increases would solve the problem.
Joe Lehigh County says :
Senator Pat Browne and Representative Carl Mantz, the Table below is the History of School Tax for the Northwestern Lehigh School District. When will the problem be fixed?

Tax Year.......Mills.........%Increase

1996...........29.93
1997...........30.93.............3.3
1998...........31.68.............2.4
1999...........31.68.............0.0
2000...........32.18.............1.6
2001...........32.18.............0.0
2002...........33.36.............3.7
2003...........34.33.............2.9
2004...........36.77.............7.1
2005...........40.72.............10.7
2006...........42.92.............5.4
2007...........45.76.............6.6 (preliminary)

I would be interested in the data for other School Districts. S.T.O.P. Supporters, lets send our elected leaders a clear message. Stop Taxing Our Property!
Anonymous says :
I urge everyone who recently purchased a home, on the open market, for under assessed value to file an appeal to the property assessment office. In other words if your assessment is higher than current market value, APPEAL NOW!


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