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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 14, 2020 09:22 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Maureen E. Madden |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Homestead School Property Tax Rebate |
| We cannot deny that funding our local school districts is important for the success of our children; however, we also cannot ignore the issue that is school property taxes. Countless stories are told from our citizens that detail the adverse impact that school property taxes have had on them, especially our low-income families and senior citizens. Many of our senior citizens have had no choice but to sell their homes because they no longer can afford school property taxes, which only continue to increase. In many worst case scenarios, families have ended up losing their homes entirely. Our hardworking Pennsylvanians deserve a relief from burdensome school property taxes. My legislation would help our citizens by implementing a $2,000 rebate for homesteads and farmsteads to reduce or eliminate school property taxes. With this rebate, it is estimated that over 2.3 million households will receive total school property tax elimination. To fund the rebate, my legislation would also establish a 0.98% surtax on the personal income tax (PIT). While this would result in slightly higher income taxes, the benefit to homeowners through property tax relief will ensure that we are protecting our vulnerable families and senior citizens. High school property taxes are unsustainable for our working Pennsylvanians. Please join me in co-sponsoring legislation that would help relieve our citizens from some of the hardships these taxes present. |