Posted: | June 15, 2021 05:06 PM |
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From: | Representative Frank Burns |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Reducing Property Taxes with Budget Surplus |
Property taxes put a significant financial strain on many Pennsylvanians, especially senior citizens and those with disabilities. While gambling proceeds have offered some property tax relief over the years, they haven’t done enough to alleviate the burden for many households. Pennsylvania’s General Fund has done a 180-degree turnaround this year, from a projected deficit to an anticipated surplus of more than $3 billion. Pennsylvania also has the added benefit of more than $7 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funding through the American Rescue Plan coming over two years. I believe that when the state economy is strong, we should share that prosperity with everyday Pennsylvanians – not simply find new ways to spend the money. That’s why I’m introducing a plan to earmark a portion of any state budget surplus for the Property Tax Relief Fund so that the residents’ property tax or rent rebate checks can be a little bigger. If in bad financial times we ask our residents to pay more, then in good financial times we should let them pay a little less. Please join me in sponsoring this legislation and providing additional property tax relief to those Pennsylvanians who need it most. |
Introduced as HB1676