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| Deb Hunter |
Most of the people in that room were avid fans of property tax elimination. As someone who has my own doubts about the merit of this idea, I'd agree that many of their arguments were persuasive. But as always happens when there's a one-sided group, there's a tendency to shout down those with a contrary view.
With that in mind, I want to mention that three women had the courage to stand up and express their reservations. Bethlehem's Linda Robertson was loudly booed when she suggested that if something looks too good to be true, it usually is. But she stood her ground, and one of the panelists chided the crowd. Believe it or not, the crowd improved.
Deb Hunter is a brilliant woman who ran for Northampton County Council four years ago. After Linda was booed, she voiced her concerns anyway. So did Salisbury Township's Elizabeth Lechner.
As profiles in courage go, these are small examples. But it was refreshing to see these three people take a principled stand in unfriendly waters.
It was also encouraging to see so many people who have been actively working on property tax reform for may years.One gentleman from York, Joel Sears, actually presented an analysis of 15 properties in Northampton and Lehigh County to demonstrate the disparities in property tax.
I rarely see this kind of interest in government. What I saw last night gave me hope for us.
The only disappointment was some selfish asshole who even begrudged having to fund school lunches.
I hope he gets a lump of coal for Christmas.
(Blogger's Note. Originally published 3:59 am and updated to include a link to my story.)
21 comments:
It seems the biggest opposition to property tax elimination is from the Education establishment. They have found it relatively easy to stack the school boards with those that are inclined to spend more and more. It is a job that really is not enticing for most to run for, unless they have a stake in the education system. Those who oppose more spending are quickly labeled anti-education, anti-teacher etc. Maybe we should make this a paid position, possibly $20,000.00 a year. There is a lot of time and work involved if the job is taken seriously. If they are just 9 bobble heads to agree with every new spending plan, it takes much less effort.
There are numerous groups opposed to the elimination of school property taxes, including the state education association. There are also groups who want it, like the realtors.
The state senators should be ashamed to show their faces in public. Our bond rating was just lowered and is now in the US bottom five. Nice work you trough slipping incompetents.
I believe the gentleman from York spells his last name Sears.
If property tax is eliminated, how do businesses that sit on million dollar 1/4 parcels contribute to school funding? If corporations are people too, do they contribute a percent of revenue?
If income tax and higher sales tax become the funding methods, are schools funded with income tax and sales tax in their districts, or does the state collect and redistribute on some other basis?
What happens to urban districts who have to spend more per student due to issues like having a high percentage of students where English isn't the primary language spoken at home?
In lieu of property tax elimination, the state would be wise to pass a law that requires counties to reassess every ten years.
Counties that have reassessed recently get the economic development that helps reduce the burden on homeowners.
Counties that haven't reassessed since the 90s don't get the new businesses and as a result, homeowners get more and more of that tax burden the longer the county doesn't reassess.
My biggest criticism of the property tax abolitionists is that they are very short sighted. They will talk down everyone in the room that the "plan" works but they fail to acknowledge that the "plan" stops working like five or so years out because the demographics and economy in PA aren't going in a favorable direction. They just don't want to pay taxes and the sooner, the better.
My biggest criticism of the education lobbyists is the mix of arrogance and ignorance that nothing is wrong, nothing should be changed - just keep giving us the money so we can do what we want - and the pensions and endless tax raising says those days have been long over.
While residents pay higher sales tax, the busineses they patronize get a pass on property tax. Does anyone think for a minute they will reduce the cost of goods and services equal to the savings they gain by the elimination of property tax?
Will pensions be taxed as income?
The "brilliant" Deb Hunter is a teacher concerned about her pocketbook. Seriously, to fight to keep something that stinks the same because it helps you, is not really any act of courage. Thanks for playing.
The problem is spending, not the the taxing scheme. We rank in the 20s in state per capital income. We rank top five in per student spending. PA values education and our expenditures prove it. The system is unsustainable, however, when taxpayers have only beer money and are required to buy champagne. The answer is not another version of the shell game, or to simply raise and raise taxes, as is currently the case. It's time to control spending. Opinions from both side indicate this will never happen. So we keep increasing debt spending and watch our bond rating plummet. Only bankruptcy will get anyone's attention and it's a long ugly slog to get to that point. We're clearly on our way.
It's time to legalize recreation weed and tax it. Colorado has seen no increase in addiction to serious drugs and the funding projections that were scoffed at we're all achieved in about six months. Their state legislature had to pass a bill to spend the surplus, lest they be required to cut everybody a pot refund check. It's not the only answer to revenue. Buts it's a big one.
8.40, Yes, if the fiscal policies of the state continue on the trajectory they are now on, we will see an exodus of population and business, which will create the cycle of increasing the taxes on those that are left. This is what has happened to places like Detroit. That is real shortsightedness.
Eliminate property taxes, replace with those other taxes and possibly a $500. per adult per capita tax. Lower corporate rates, and cut regulation to encourage wealth producing jobs. Get a growing wealth producing economy and everyone will prosper. Schools and government are expenses, they do not produce wealth or increase tax revenues, Necessary, but need to be kept in line.
All the public sector workers just hopes they can keep kicking the can down the road, until they can collect their fat government pension. Then they can move to a low tax state like Florida.
We need more people to think about the long term future for the state and the country.
10:43 That great, if all these people are sitting around smoking weed, who will be working and paying taxes. A motivated industrious worker is the opposite of a pot smoker.
"I believe the gentleman from York spells his last name Sears."
I had a letter from him, but it is unsigned, so I will go by what you tell me and make the change. Thank you.
And we will trust the people in Harrisburg to come up with a fair\equitable method to distribute these tax dollars.
They said they would put the revenue from the sales tax in a separate and safe account that will never be raided....pulllease! The House has just created their revenue recommendation for this budget to include a GIANT RAID on many state programs to balance the budget. So just trust them on this right??XX####
I don't have a problem with school taxes. Saying that I do have a problem with elderly people paying school taxes after a certain age. My Mother died at the age of 84 and it use to kill me to write a check for $2,800 for her when she only received $1,600 per month from S/S and her pension. I think when a person turns 65 that should be the end of school taxes. I know of many people that had to sell their homes because they could not afford the taxes. The system must be fixed to help people on fixed income.
4.40
and you can expand the rebate program for people who need it.
but the true intent of the elimination of property taxes is to reward business.
landlords get a nice boost as well.
does anyone think landlords will reduce the rent equal to the elimination of the property taxes paid?
not a chance.
walmart and their corporate ilk are the true winners if property tax is eliminated.
they would get all the benefits and pay nothing for those benefits.
if the town snowplow goes down my street and walmart's street why should i be the one paying the full tab.
Folks better know that the referendum coming in November regarding a constitutional amendment to allow taxation to be separated between business and residential should be a big NO vote. This is what they said they wanted to make it easier to get this abomination that is S.B. 76 passed. Corporations will get special treatment any way you look at it.
Maybe if districts weren't forced to fund for profit Charter and cyber schools, it would be different. The Executive Education Academic Charter is an absolute joke that isn't funny. They create a BS Foundation and buy a building and lease to the Commonwealth while the school still receives rent from taxpayers.
Bernie, if these here parasites have another drinking eating session on the whole of pa's tax feet they too could ponder to pander like all the other locals too.
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