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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tim Seip |
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Seip bills to ban controversial 'spot' assessments headed to full House
His heritage-area bill also wins committee approval
HARRISBURG, April 3 – State Rep. Tim Seip, D-Schuylkill/Berks, said House committees voted this week to approve three bills he introduced, advancing them to the full House of Representatives.
Two of the bills (H.B.s 1438 and 1439) would ban the "spot" assessments that are a growing concern in Seip's district. At Seip's request, the House Local Government Committee held a hearing on the bills in February at Penn State Schuylkill Campus in Schuylkill Haven. The committee heard testimony from an affected property owner from the area and experts on the issue.
"These spot assessments are initiated only because a property is sold, despite the fact that a similar or identical property nearby may continue to be taxed at a lower rate," Seip said.
Seip's other bill (H.B. 2035) heading to the full House would establish a $5 million Heritage Area Program. The initiative would protect, enhance and promote Pennsylvania's historic, recreational, natural, cultural and scenic resources and stimulate community sustainability and economic development through heritage, outdoor recreation and ecotourism.
One of the areas that would receive funding through the bill is the Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area, which includes Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. The bill would divide the funding equally among the 12 heritage areas it identifies.
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