Bob Logue

350 homes are abandoned in the City of Pittsburgh every year

Each year in the City of Pittsburgh alone the blight grows by one additional abandoned home almost every day throughout every year. That statistic demonstrates the severe decline of the city. Abandoned homes are invitations to disaster. Vandals smash out windows and deface them; dealers infest them and use them as crack houses; arsonists burn them and often endanger nearby homes and families; and the deteriorating structures make a neighborhood less desirable for families to stay there, or move into.

The 350 abandoned homes each year are more properties from which the school district, city and county get NO real estate tax revenue.

What can be done to reverse this trend? The issue is complex, but making the city and state exceptionally attractive to home buyers and home owners can have a major impact on the problem. The government spends tax dollars through bureaucratic programs that forgiving property taxes for 3 or 5 years as an incentive for people to purchase the dilapidated homes and repair them. However, when the grace period ends, the new owners face property taxes that may be beyond their ability to pay. Further, no one can accurately predict what their taxes might be, so these potential residents may well be reluctant to take the gamble and do all that work, only to lose the home later.

Property taxes are a disincentive to community growth and development. In fact, high property taxes are the most hated taxes in the state (Quinnipiac University Poll) and in the nation (Gallup Poll.) Since these taxes are by far the most hated of all taxes, why do we think people will want to move into our counties, communities and school districts which rely so heavily on that most hated tax?

Will the property tax reductions ‘promised’ under Act 72—the slot machine legislation—have any real impact upon the economic stagnancy of Pennsylvania? I think not. It’s akin to spitting into the wind.

First, in property tax reduction it promises an average savings of about $300. However, before those savings can be realized, everyone in the home who works must pay 1/10th of one percent more in earned income tax. Secondly, the $300+ savings easily can be offset by reassessments, or increases in property taxes by the county and municipal governments. How then, can these savings have any dramatic impact upon the Pennsylvania economy? How will it create jobs outside the casinos themselves? How will it entice people to want to establish their primary residence here?

The STOP (Primary Residence Protection Plan) abolishes ALL assessments and reassessments on primary residences, saving county government millions of dollars across the Commonwealth. I believe Allegheny County alone could save about 3 to 4 million annually in the assessment office, plus substantial savings in the sheriff’s office (due to far fewer sheriff sales); and in the courts where those who can afford it appeal their property tax assessments.

Secondly, persons are more likely to buy and repair homes for their families if they know they will never, ever pay a real estate tax on that home again no matter how much they improve it. That is a real incentive that will have a real private sector economic impact upon every community in the Commonwealth.

When the out-migration of citizens from Pennsylvania ceases, and our state becomes very attractive to individuals and families, people will stay here…and others will come. Businesses are sure to follow to serve this increasing population. Jobs will increase and so will the revenues for our schools, county and municipal governments.

Since our plan affects only primary residences, it encourages home ownership by individuals and families, and that builds communities. Our plan is fully detailed at www.grandoldusa.com There you can read the legislation that was introduced at our request during the last legislative session. The suggested replacement taxes, how the funds would be collected and distributed, etc. is all there. And a wealth of other information.

Don’t be fooled by property tax reductions. Anyone with an ounce of brains knows the tax will go right back up as it always has. That’s why we want total abolishment of all property taxes on primary residences (homesteads\farmsteads) backed by a constitutional amendment that could never be reversed without the vote of the public.

Don’t be fooled by the 5% sales tax plan that abolishes only school taxes. It keeps the county and municipal property taxes and it keeps in place the costly assessment\reassessment bureaucracy since every piece of property in every county still must be reassessed under their plan. Further, since the abolishment of school taxes under the 5% plan would be done just by legislative action; and since the assessment\reassessment bureaucracy would remain intact, it would be quite easy for a future legislature to reinstate the school tax on top of the 5% sales tax on utilities, food, clothing, day care, attorney’s fees, caskets, counseling, and just about everything else as the proponents are proposing.

112,000+ citizens of Pennsylvania have signed petitions demanding abolishment of all property taxes on primary residences. That may well be the largest grass-roots petition drive in Pennsylvania history. It is time for the legislative leaders of both political parties and Governor Rendell to stop ignoring the wishes of these citizens and thousands more who agree with them, and consider this sensible, workable, economic development\true property tax reform plan.

Bob Logue—S.T.O.P. (Primary Residence Protection Plan)

Visitor Comments:

rose johe says :
how do i go about finding when a piece of property will go up for sheriffs sale and how do i make a bid?

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S.T.O.P. Primary Residence Protection Plan

Current Petition Signatures Total: 118,369


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