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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. David Kessler |
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Kessler votes for constitutional amendment to allow elimination of school property taxes on primary homes, farms
HARRISBURG, Jan. 17 – State Rep. David Kessler, D-Berks, voted today to pass a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, which he co-sponsored with the chairman of the House Finance Committee, which would allow the elimination of all school property taxes on primary homes and farms.
“This is the centerpiece of property tax reform. Because of the constitution, we must pass this amendment before we can eliminate school property taxes on primary homes and farms. I hope the Senate will join us,” said Kessler, who is a co-sponsor of the amendment (H.B. 1947) and a member of the Finance Committee.
The proposed amendment passed the House 193-0 today and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Currently, the state constitution includes a “homestead exemption,” approved by voters in 1997, which essentially limits school property tax relief to 50 percent of the median assessment in a school district. The proposed amendment would allow the General Assembly to create a full-value exemption from property taxes for residential and farm properties.
To be included in the state constitution, an amendment must pass the legislature in two consecutive sessions and be approved by voters. That means the earliest it could go before voters is next year.
To help homeowners in the meantime, Kessler is co-sponsoring another bill that is expected to be considered by the House the week of Jan. 28. That legislation (H.B. 1600) would provide an average reduction of about 40 percent in school property taxes for homeowners as soon as next year. It would fund the relief by shifting more of the education funding burden to the state sales and income taxes. Kessler said H.B. 1275, introduced by Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-Berks, will probably also be considered the week of Jan. 28 as an amendment offered to other legislation.
Kessler also is working to contain school costs by introducing one bill on that subject and co-sponsoring two others. His bill (H.B. 1889) would require school districts to choose from a standard set of blueprints for new schools. The Finance Committee voted 27-2 to send that bill to the House floor.
The other school cost-containment bills Kessler is co-sponsoring are: H.B. 1841, which could reduce teacher strikes and save up to $585 million on school taxes by leveraging the purchasing power and combining the health benefits of Pennsylvania’s school districts; and H.B. 72, which would require developers to pay impact fees to share the costs that fall on existing homeowners when new housing drives up school enrollment. Both of those bills are being considered in committee.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Ben Turner |