The Panther Valley School District includes Coaldale, Summit Hill, Lansford, and Nesquehoning. Although Kovatch Motors is in the district, there are few other valuable properties. Like many other low property value districts, Panther Valley is caught in a squeeze. Even a large hike in the tax rate doesn’t bring in much money, and low income people are already strapped. The result is that school programs are cut and students suffer.
Both Senator Argall and Representative Heffley promised to end the property tax system in this state. What they needed was a Republican legislature and a Republican governor, and then they could have done it.
Wait. Wait. They did have a Republican legislature and a Republican governor. His name was Corbett. And they did nothing.
Incidentally, Argall and Heffley are still promising to eliminate the property tax. They do that before every election.
Unfortunately we almost had SB76 passed last year. There was a tie vote 25/25, but our Democratic Lt. Governor voted NO.
ReplyDeleteOf course Palmerton will increase taxes again. Its a regular thing every year. I believe they do it just to do it. What I don;t understand is why. Us seniors have not seen any increase in our SS. Government say there is no inflation.
I for one am sick and tired of property taxes.
Over the years all of our state legislators have reduced support to our schools. I recall when it was in the 70% or greater range and now its in the low 30%. In defense of Sen, Argall he had championed SB76 and has never given up on attempts to pass it. Why the Lt. Governor voted against just tells me that our Governor is not in support of ending property taxes.
I could go on & on.
SB76 is a fraud of a bill. The math on that bill simply doesn't add up.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, any elected official that votes for it is being extremely dishonest about what it will mean for education in the state.
The way it is currently written, it reduces education funding on a permanent basis. It is immoral to throw the education of an entire generation under the bus because seniors aren't comfortable adjusting to economic conditions. There are ways to make it work for both the kids and the property owners, but that would require the property owners living in reality. From where we are to elimination just isn't reality.
So you know, I live in Panther valley school district. We pay a huge amount of taxes for a school that is well below where it should be.
They could adjust the funding formula to make it more equitable and shift a portion of the property tax bill to sales and/or income tax. That's what is actually realistic. Incidentally, that is exactly what the governor asked for last year. The children in the house and Senate(like Heffley, Knowles and Argall) will continue to do nothing about any issue that they can campaign on...and they really like this issue since it winds up the senior voting block in their favor and against their own self interests.