THREE STUDIES CONCLUDE PENNSYLVANIA IS ROTTING FROM WITHIN
Three independent studies were conducted by Penn State University, The Pennsylvania Economy League, and Washington D.C. based Brookings Institution. Here are some of the conclusions reached by the research. (Emphasis added)
The Pennsylvania Economy League analyzed municipal revenue for 33 years (1970 to 2003) and determined the financial well-being of urban, suburban and rural communities across the state is declining. Their study also said half of all Pennsylvania citizens live in municipalities where taxes are rising, services are dwindling, and the population is moving away.
The Economy League reports a "Fundamental mismatch" between today’s mobile Pennsylvanian who often works, shops, lives and recreates in different municipalities and the state’s system to provide services and levy taxes which is based almost entirely on where taxpayers live. "The resources aren’t really shared across the region or the broader community as much as they are isolated to the municipal boxes within which we live," said LeeAnne Clayberger of the PA. Economy League.
Brookings Institution’s study--an update of their 2003 study—found that three years later, Pennsylvania is still struggling with slow population growth, anemic economic development and loss of high paying jobs.
Penn State University’s study focused on Pennsylvania’s rural communities but found their leaders struggling with the same problems as those highlighted in the other two reports. The article from which this material was drawn appeared in the Washington Observer-Reporter Newspaper of Monday, March 26th, 2007, Pg. A9.
COMMENTARY FROM BOB LOGUE, STOP PRIMARY RESIDENCE PROTECTION PLAN:
We believe these three studies—independent of one another--add further proof that the method of taxation in Pennsylvania-with its heavy reliance on property taxes--is a major deterrent to growth and prosperity for Pennsylvania, many of its individual municipalities, counties, school districts, and citizens. The PA Economy League study found that half of all Pennsylvania citizens live in municipalities where taxes are rising, services are dwindling and population is moving away. (A triple whammy.)
This decline is not going to be reversed by throwing millions of dollars of borrowed economic development money at a few projects scattered across the state or opening a few casinos. That is tantamount to stuffing a wad of money into a hole in a dam to try to prevent further leakage. According to the article, the studies have concluded that relying heavily on taxation within the community where we live must cease. And since a sizable percentage of taxes paid by citizens in our school districts, counties and municipalities are property taxes-we believe this is a direct indictment of the property tax.
High property taxes, unfair assessments, government harassment of home owners by requiring them to fight for 'fair' assessments, constant fear of how high property taxes will go with each new county, school and municipal budget; and uncertainty regarding long term increases in the property taxes, deter people from considering buying or building a home, or remaining in the one they currently own. It also deters people from improving their homes.
The answer to the dilemma spelled out in the article and the studies is simple: ABOLISH ALL PROPERTY TAXES ON PRIMARY RESIDENCES. NO OTHER ACTION BY OUR GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE COULD HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON REVERSING THE ECONOMIC AND POPULATION STAGNANCY IN PENNSYLVANIA.
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee study of the S.T.O.P. Primary Residence Protection Plan legislation proved that abolishing all property taxes on homesteads\farmsteads (primary residences) and replacing those taxes with modest increases in the sales and state income tax is fiscally sound policy. The LBFC study examined revenue from sales and income taxes for twenty years-and stated that in both good and bad economic times the sales and income taxes would provide stable funding for our schools, counties and municipalities.
The STOP legislation is an economic development plan that costs the state NOTHING. It saves the 67 county governments tens of millions of dollars by reducing the size and cost of operations; it creates a very attractive atmosphere where people would want to buy a home and live, and it encourages those already living here to remain. It encourages individuals or families to buy older housing stock in declining communities and invest money and efforts in upgrading those homes, knowing they will never pay a property tax on that home. It creates jobs in every community by spurring economic activity in real estate, banking, building, remodeling, building materials, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, decorating, and many more fields which will ripple through the entire local and statewide economies.
PROPERTY TAX REDUCTIONS ARE TEMPORARY, A FRAUD, AND WILL DO NONE OF THESE THINGS.Learn more about STOP at www.grandoldusa.com or contact the prime sponsors
of the STOP Legislation:
Senator Sean Logan (717) 787-5580 or (412) 380-2242
E-mail Logan@pasenate.com
Or Representative Marc Gergely in the Pennsylvania House at (717) 783-1018
or (412) 754-3500
E-mail mgergely@pahouse.net
We urge you to contact your legislators and encourage them to support the total abolishment of all property taxes on primary residences.
Bob Logue, STOP, Box 306, Fairbank, PA 15435-0306
E-mail ucblogue@verizon.net
Also visit the STOP PAGE at the Undercover Club Website...at www.spedunkie.com
Visitor Comments:
- Joe Lehigh County says :
- "In God We Trust, All Others Bring Data!" Senator Browne and Representative Mantz, below is the Northwestern Lehigh School District, School Tax History. Currently, our School Tax is 21.8% higher than the Parkland School District. Parkland High School looks more like a college campus. When will the Tax Problem be fixed!
Tax Year.......Mills..........% Incease
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)
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