House Majority Appropriations Committee Launches ‘Taxpayers That Pay’ Website, Santora Says
HARRISBURG – The House Majority Appropriations Committee today launched a website,
www.TaxpayersThatPay.com, which provides details on how Pennsylvania taxpayers in each school district would fare under Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed property tax shift plan, state Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) said.
“Despite what the governor has been saying, his property tax shift proposal would cost many taxpayers across the Commonwealth far more than it would provide in property tax relief,” Santora said. “Once it’s fully implemented, the governor’s plan would raise more than $8 billion in new taxes, but only put $3.6 billion toward property tax relief. For instance, under the governor’s plan, residents of Haverford Township School District would pay a total net tax increase of more than $18 million. That’s simply unacceptable.”
According to the House Majority Appropriations Committee’s analysis, residents of Upper Darby School District and William Penn School District would receive a total of approximately $1.6 million and $2.3 million, respectively, in net property tax and rent relief under the governor’s plan. However, Santora is adamant that these savings are not enough.
“Considering that Upper Darby School District residents would be forced to pay more than $32 million in new income and sales taxes only to receive a roughly 20 percent reduction in property taxes, the governor’s plan clearly would not offer the real property tax relief that taxpayers deserve,” Santora said. “And because the governor’s plan lacks provisions to restrict school districts from raising property taxes once they spend down their reserve accounts, there’s no guarantee that taxpayers would see even these modest property tax savings.
“I have been actively engaged with several of my colleagues on a property tax reform plan that would net taxpayers closer to 40 percent in property tax savings,” Santora continued. “I look forward to working to advance that legislation in the near future so that property owners receive the real relief they deserve.”
Representative James R. Santora
163rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jonathan Anzur
717.260.6610
janzur@pahousegop.com
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