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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 6, 2023 03:22 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Rosemary M. Brown |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Senior Property Tax Relief Act |
| In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation providing for school property tax relief for senior citizens across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through expansion of the homestead/farmstead exclusion. Specifically, my legislation will add language to Title 4 directing the current STATEWIDE LSA gaming money, and ALL NEW revenue generated from the future expansion of gaming (i.e. internet gaming and video gaming terminals) into the Property Tax Relief Fund, created by the Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of Special Session 1 of 2006. The original intent of Gaming in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was to provide the residents of Pennsylvania with significant property tax relief. Providing our residents with significant property tax relief has not been realized despite implementation of gaming and expansion since 2006. Consequently, as the Legislature again strongly continues to discuss expansion of gaming, including internet gaming and video gaming terminals, the Commonwealth should do everything possible to ensure the new revenue is used for its original purpose, to provide much needed and long-awaited property tax relief to Pennsylvania residents. This legislation provides much needed property tax relief for seniors 65 and older via the homestead/farmstead exclusion. There is a 10-year residency requirement for seniors aged 65 and older and they must reside in their owner-occupied residence to qualify. In 2017, the majority of Pennsylvania voters supported 100 percent property tax elimination through a voter referendum. We have still not responded to our voters on this referendum. This legislation is a starting point to move our senior population closer to this elimination since most senior citizens are on a fixed income and current inflation is at a record high. This senior benefit is requested and more warranted than ever before to respect our seniors in their “ golden years.” Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact Christine Zubeck in my office at 717-787-6123 or czubeck@pasen.gov. Thank you for your consideration. |