PAR issues call-to-action on property tax reform

The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® (PAR) recently issued a Call-to-Action asking members to contact their state senators and ask them to support the School Property Tax Elimination Act. As of late Sunday, more than 3,000 emails had been sent to senators. Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill), the sponsor of the bill, expects the bill to be voted on in the Senate this week.

This legislation proposes to eliminate property taxes dedicated to school districts and replace the funding by raising the personal income tax from 3.07 to 4.34 percent and increasing and broadening the sales tax from 6 to 7 percent to include previously exempted items. Based on an economic impact study by Anderson Economic Group conducted for the PAR, the bill works.

“Realtors® have seen the devastating effects of unreasonably high property taxes. We’ve heard countless stories of seniors unable to afford living in their homes due to excessive property taxes while younger families are unable to purchase homes because of the tax burden,” said Guy Matteo, chair of PAR’s Public Policy and Political Advocacy Coordinating Committee. “I strongly urge Realtors® to contact their senators about this critical issue.”

This legislation will protect homeowners on fixed incomes and fairly tax consumers in a responsible way. Throughout the Commonwealth, rising school property taxes have made it difficult for homeowners on limited incomes to pay their taxes. By eliminating property taxes and replacing the funding with personal income and sales taxes, the burden of unreasonably high property taxes would be lifted from homeowners and fairly spread among those who consume and earn the most.