To lower property taxes, PA Legislature is voting on increases in sales and income taxes

[JPZenger]

https://pennbpc.org/senate-bill-eliminating-property-taxes-largely-unchanged-amendment

Bills are being voted upon in the legislature that are intended to lower school taxes for businesses, investors and residents. It would be accomplished by greatly expanding the goods and services that are subject to the sales tax, and increasing it to 7%. For example, many types of food would be subject to the sales tax, as well as college meal plans, funeral services and mass transit fares.

The personal income tax would also be raised. PA. is one of the few states with an income tax that does not have progressive rates - everyone pays the same rate, regardless of income.

The link describes many of the negative impacts of this proposal, including severe constraints on the ability of local school districts to raise needed revenue.

[Atman]

1. BRILLIANT! If you're already well-off enough to own a home, you get a break!

If you're struggling to feed a family in a rented slum, you'll get to pay more.

BRILLIANT!

[malthaussen]

2. Standard RW thinking.

And they gotta get it in while they still have a chance.

-- Mal

[Curmudgeoness]

3. And every time I contact my legislators,

the Republican tells me to pound sand because I am just wrong, and the Democrat tells me there isn't anything he can do about it because the Dems are a minority.....it is a sorry state of affairs when there is nothing you can do to influence or stop these ridiculous ideas. But I will contact them anyways and try to reason with them about how short-sighted this idea is. It is regressive, since the poorer you are, the more you will pay of your income in sales taxes, and the income tax is the same no matter what you make.

I agree that there is a problem with school taxes----my home would sell for about $30,000 and I pay just short of $1000 a year in school taxes. If they want to give relief on property taxes, they should allow us to vote on raises in taxes like many other states. When tax money is wasted, we would have the opportunity to stop it.