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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 13, 2012 09:34 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jerry Knowles |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Property Tax Relief |
| I am re-introducing legislation of great importance to Pennsylvania citizens, and most importantly, Pennsylvania’s senior citizens. For years, the General Assembly has focused on various avenues to reach property tax relief. Most recently, Act 1 was signed into law. While this legislation was a step in the right direction, it falls well short of delivering relief to the taxpaying citizens of this Commonwealth most deserving of the relief – fixed income senior citizens. My legislation aims to correct this shortcoming. It amends Title 72 (Taxation and Fiscal Affairs) to establish the Property Tax Assistance Program. In this program, any eligible claimant may submit their school property tax bill to the Department of Revenue. If the Department determines that the claimant is eligible for the program, the Department shall then pay the claimant’s property tax bill. A claimant is defined as any senior citizen over the age of 65 with annual household income of not more than $40,000. The property tax payments for older Pennsylvanians will be paid from monies currently dedicated to the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, as well as from the Property Tax Relief Fund, using revenue generated from expanded gaming. We, in the Legislature, cannot lose sight of the citizens who most need property tax relief. There are far too many senior citizens in this Commonwealth who have worked all their life to achieve the American dream of owning property and their own home, only to have this dream taken away due to ever-increasing property tax burdens. My legislation delivers relief to those citizens with the greatest need, by eliminating their property taxes completely. Previous co-sonsors of the bill include: KNOWLES, DAVIDSON, GINGRICH, GROVE, HESS, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, MICOZZIE, MURT, OBERLANDER, PYLE, SANTARSIERO, SWANGER and TALLMAN |
Introduced as HB1710