WHEREAS: Property taxes In Pennsylvania are heavily relied upon to fund our schools, our county and municipal

governments;

WHEREAS: The property tax perpetuates unequal educational opportunities for public school students in

Pennsylvania-since the quality of schools is very much related to the assessed valuation of the properties in each

school district;

WHEREAS: Property taxes in Pennsylvania place a heavy burden on senior citizens, disabled and other family

homeowners who are on fixed, or low incomes- sometimes forcing homeowners to lose their homes to sheriff

sale; or forcing these individuals to choose between eating or heating or needed medication, or paying their

property taxes.

WHEREAS: Property taxes are not based on one’s ability to pay.

WHEREAS: Property taxes are based on subjective (guesswork) evaluations, subject to human error, mood, etc.

and are often unequal and unfair;

WHEREAS: Property taxes are contributing to the out-migration of PA residents;

WHEREAS: Property taxes are very costly to collect and administer.

WHEREAS: Property sale prices used as comparables can contain real estate agent commissions, other fees,

personal property (such as furnishings) and other costs that should not be included;

WHEREAS: Appeal hearings can be costly for the property-owner, and pit neighbor against neighbor, property

owner against their school district, and county, and municipal governments;

WHEREAS: the assessment process can require an invasion of privacy into the homeowner’s dwelling;

WHEREAS: Property owners who improve their homes or properties are penalized with higher taxes for making

their home and community more attractive;

WHEREAS: Predicting future property tax burdens is questionable, at best. And can prevent potential buyers from

purchasing homes, thereby depressing the real estate market and the value of individual homes, costing that

homeowner dearly:

BE IT KNOWN, this organization/group has adopted a resolution supporting the total abolishment of real estate

taxes in Pennsylvania on owner-occupied homesteads; and we hereby demand that our Pennsylvania Governor,

State Senators and State Representatives take immediate steps to accomplish this objective. And, to find fair and

sensible alternatives to replace the revenue provided by the property tax for our schools, municipalities and

counties.

NOTE: Please make copies of this signed resolution and forward them to: all the State Representatives and

Senators of the members of your organization/group (addresses can be found at www.grandoldusa.com); Pa.

Gov. Ed Rendell, Office of the Governor, Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120 and send one copy to STOP, c/o

Bob Logue, KDKA Radio, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Thank you for your involvement in the Stop Taxing Our Property

- tax revolt.

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Page 1 of 1 S.T.O.P. Resolution!

1/21/2004 http://grandoldusa.com/reso.html