logan TOUTS TAX CUT PROPOSAL IN SPECIAL SESSION TESTIMONY
NEWS RELEASE
STATE SENATOR
SEAN LOGAN
45th Senatorial District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SENATOR SEAN LOGAN
CONTACT: Ken Varhola
PHONE: 412-380-2242
PHONE: 412-380-2242
www.senatorlogan.com
kvarhola@pasenate.com
logan TOUTS TAX CUT PROPOSAL IN SPECIAL SESSION TESTIMONY
HARRISBURG, October 26, 2005 – Testifying before the Senate Committee on Legislation for the special session on property tax relief, state Sen. Sean Logan (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) today reiterated his call for completely eliminating homeowner property taxes on primary residences in Pennsylvania.
“With 14 property tax relief bills already introduced in the special session and many more in the regular session, I was pleased and encouraged that my S.T.O.P. (Stop Taxing Our Properties) legislation was one of the first bills this special committee chose to hold a hearing on,” Logan said. “While I remain open to other ideas and proposals aimed at cutting property taxes, I remain convinced that my plan is the fairest.”
Under Logan’s S.T.O.P. legislation, which would totally eliminate homeowner property taxes at the local, school district and county level for primary residences only, approximately $5 billion in property taxes would be eliminated and replaced by:
- using the $729 million in revenue generated from the last (2003) increase in the state’s Personal Income Tax (PIT) from 2.8 percent to the current 3.07 percent.
- increasing the PIT an additional 1 percent to 4.07 percent to produce an additional $3.0 billion;
- raising the Sales and Use Tax by .205 percent statewide to generate an addition $273 million; and
- using the $1.0 billion in anticipated gaming proceeds for property tax relief.
Logan’s legislative package also calls for an “emergency” amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would allow for homestead and commercial property to be taxed at different rates – in this case, homestead properties would not be taxed. Logan said this is necessary to “provide badly needed relief to homeowners from the burdensome and unfair property tax system.”
In a relatively rare scenario, Logan testified before a committee he serves as a member of. He told his fellow committee members that in comparison to some of the other tax reform scenarios, his plan was the only one that would keep food, clothing and other necessities exempt from the state’s sales tax.
“Expanding the sales tax to necessities such as food and clothing is an assault on poor families – many of whom are renters that won’t share in any property tax relief,” Logan said. “We cannot remedy this problem for homeowners at the expense of renters and low income families.”
He credited Bob Logue, a former Pittsburgh radio personality for founding the S.T.O.P. anti-property tax organization. Logue and numerous fellow lawmakers joined Logan in September when he unveiled his legislation in Pittsburgh.
To underscore the dire impact that ever-increasing property taxes have on the elderly and low income working families, Logan held his announcement in the Allegheny County Court House courtyard where 753 foreclosed homes were being auctioned off.
Logan said the entire Allegheny County Senate delegation has pledged to support his legislation.
In addition to Logan’s STOP proposal, the special Senate committee has heard testimony on the Governor’s and senate Democratic and Republican leaders’ tax relief proposals.
Attachement: Logan STOP Numbers
Visitor Comments:
- Joseph Klach says :
- My families school tax was increased 10.7% for the 2005/2006 school year. Upon educating myself, I signed, offered my time, and mailed a S.T.O.P. petition on 11/23/05. Unfortunately, the majority of our residents are clueless as to what is occurring regarding property taxes. Our local television new does not educate. A statement or two about www.grandoldusa.com would be a start. I reside in lehigh county. I will contact 69 News. I will most likely be ignored because they have ignored me in the past. Mr Logue, more Pennsylvanian's must be made aware of S.T.O.P.
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