Posted: | February 10, 2017 02:12 PM |
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From: | Representative Jason Ortitay |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Comprehensive Tax Policy Study Resolution |
Last year, the commonwealth’s economy struggled to grow as the state’s gross domestic product grew by less than 1%. While many factors contribute to our struggling economy, the state’s uncompetitive and burdensome tax structure negatively impacts our economy. According to the Tax Foundation, as of 2012, Pennsylvania had the 15th highest state and local tax burden compared to the income of Pennsylvanians. In this analysis Pennsylvanians lost 10.2% of their income to state and local taxes. Additionally, the Tax Foundation released a new analysis on state and local sales tax burden in which Pennsylvanians placed 17th in the nation with an average state and local sales tax rate of 6.34%. Another study showed Pennsylvania had the 18th highest property tax burden in country. In order to address the problem presented by the growing tax burden at local level, I plan to introduce legislation which would direct the Joint State Government Committee to study this issue. After 12 months the committee would issue a report to the General Assembly on how the state can work to reduce the local tax burden on Pennsylvanians while improving local funding. Please join me in sponsoring this resolution. |
Introduced as HR109