- Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:53 pm
#244627
Its time the Representative of Pennsylvania get off their *** and pass the School TAX Elimination Bill. I have neighbors that are in their 70's having to work just so they don't lose their home to the school boards. I have friends and family who are say enough is enough and selling their homes and leaving Pa. because they can't afford the School Boards wishes for football stadium and Astroturf. It’s becoming Taxation without representation. YES you may be elected but once in the POLITICIANS DO WHAT THEY AND THEIR LOBBYISTS WANT! It comes down to the Hell what the PEOPLE WANT!
Come November. I will be casting my VOTE to Oust any elected official including SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS who voted against the school tax elimination bill was absent from voting for the school tax elimination bill.
I believe in fair taxation. But the Property owners of PA are getting it up the *** while renters and trailer park dwellers slip by with meager school taxes. I know the property owners of the rental units and trailer park owners pay taxes but I am sure they do not pay the same percentage rate or have tax write offs that counter acts their losses! And they pass some if not all of the cost on to the renters.
My SCHOOL TAX last year was $5900.00 + $1400 in property tax =$7300. Breaking it down that's $608.34 every month. That's more than some people pay in rent or mortgage. It's like buying a new car that you don't even get to OWN. Let’s make taxation FAIR for all! - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It is not just the senior citizens who are having difficulty. My husband and I are a stone's throw from being senior citizens, but after losing our jobs two years apart, (thank you NAFTA) and having to absolutely scrape and scrounge for almost 4 years while my husband returned to college and get a degree in a different line of work, and finally land a job, we have suffered tremendously, and while all the while the property tax kept climbing, and has for 15 years while wages stayed stagnant. We just made it by the skin of our teeth after going through ALL our savings and having to start over, and with the heating oil prices going through the roof now, it is another really bad situation
I absolutely cannot believe how anyone can make it much longer. Look around you! Those who you think might be doing okay, are maxing out their credit cards just to pay taxes, eat, pay mortgages, and gas their cars for work! Well get ready, because when the middle class goes down, it will funnel to the very ones who are responsible for this corruption. There will not be any more bones to pick clean. The greed and deceit will finally catch up with this corrupt government here in PA. It is more than obvious that the school board/teacher's union is deplorable. They are stupid, greedy, and totally rigid in their mindset against a "fair" sales tax (the fair and equitable proposal they continue to block) that would end this horror for homeowners, and make it possible for parents to feed, clothe, house, and maybe even relax and de-stress, and spend some quality time for role modeling and doing some teaching with their own children. It would also force responsibility on the part of run-a-way spending. I am sick of my tax money being either wasted down the toilet or downright stolen. At the very least, use the money wisely!!! That has not and is not happening!
It is not the local taxpayers who are fiscally irresponsible either. Most of us are really quite frugal. It is absolutely our lawmakers yielding to special interests, and greasing each others paws who are never held accountable, and get off with a light slap on the hand when they are exposed!
Wake up and look and around you at the state of the economy. We are drowning in this mess.
More people are getting mad. I think the day of the tar and feathers will return. The electorate better listen this time around! - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Property taxes take 3 of my 12 Social Security checks this year. This is 25% of my sole income. 6 of our 7 children were educated in the parochial system, the last one over 30 years ago, yet we paid school taxes all these years, and are still paying (increasing) school taxes. This is an outrage!!!! - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We are retired senior citizens and are upset with the legislators in Harrisburg. They are totally ignoring the needs of the citizens of Pennsylvania. First of all they get an incredible salary one of the highest in the nation further they get unwarranted perks such as a free new car maybe a Cadillac to run around in, per diem and what are we paying those useless lawmakers for?
They are a self-centered group who do nothing and pass laws to give away money for ballparks and beer companies, for example Governor Rendall signed into law the loan guarantees and money to Pittsburgh Brewing Co in Pittsburgh, guess what Pittsburgh Brewing Co is taking that money and they said they are targeting the younger group with fancy looking beer bottles, how many youngster will drive and drink and be killed and or kill someone in a car wreck?
The loan guarantees and money provided to Pittsburgh Brewing Co is approximately $750,000, yes that’s correct an astonishing $750,000. Will the state of Pennsylvania ever get that money back from payments, no, Pittsburgh Brewing Co will declare bankruptcy again.
Where has common sense gone and further I see a lot of baseball fields not even being used in the spring and summer months, empty why, thousands of needless money spent and oh yes the ridiculous monuments that are placed costing thousands of dollars, why?
We need to fire half the legislators in Harrisburg, vote them out of office and get someone elected that are concerned about tax reform and abolish the School Tax and other nuisance taxes. Senior citizens are losing their houses every day and live almost in poverty while the greedy legislators in Pennsylvania live the life of rich and other wise useless lawmakers, lets turn that around and get tax reform and help the citizens of Pennsylvania, we deserve better. - Ralph and Katie
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I've been a resident of Aston Township, Delaware County for 25 years and will be retiring in just over one year. I'm very concerned about the property tax situation as it is affecting senior citizens in our township.
Many of my neighbors have had to sell their family home and move to the state of Delaware because property taxes have more than doubled over the last few years. I don't wish to sell my house, or work until the day I die, to pay the ever increasing property taxes in this district. There doesn't seem to be any representation on the school board for senior citizens.
My property taxes are presently 45 percent of what my Social Security benefit will be. That's before deductions for Medicare! How will I live? - Bob K, Aston Township, Delaware County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hi, my name is Barbara Filipiak and I have an Income Tax Service in Fawn Grove/New Park area of York County. I see a large amount of people each tax season, and I am hearing a lot of complaints about our high property tax. My Clients are very concerned about losing their homes due to the increase in property taxes. Clients are telling me if something is not done to eliminate the School Property tax that they will be forced to sale there homes and move out of the state. This is not just seniors it is young and middle class people, all struggling to keep there homes. It is time to take action and vote for the Property Taxes to be eliminated once and for all. Let our people be released of this uncalled for debt so they can enjoy there homes without the worry of losing them. Take a stand lawmakers to eliminate the School Property Tax by doing the job you were hired to do. - Barbara Filipiak, York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I sent the following to Rep. Sue Helm and never heard a word back. She was one of those who went to the other side and voted to support Perzel's amendment, when she acted like she was interested in helping abolish property taxes. It really was disappointing to me and my husband that she pretended to be interested by sending us a survey, yet did nothing in the end.
We live in a house in Millersburg, Dauphin County, and I absolutely love living back along the mountain where I can go running through the trails and enjoy the scenery. We paid $210,000 for our house. It came with 5 acres of land and that is why it is valued higher than most homes in our area. We have to pay a 30 year mortgage like most people, and our income combined totals around $67,000. But we are frustrated by the fact that we have to pay almost $5,000 a year in property taxes! My sister lives in California near Los Angeles, has a nice house, valued twice the value of ours, and pays maybe half the amount we pay. Our property tax amounts to approx. $400 of the mortgage payment we make every month. This is money that we could be putting towards our entire mortgage payment. Instead we struggle with making these payments and are fearful that there will someday be a day that we can't afford to make our mortgage payments because our property tax payments are greater than the actual mortgage amount. It just keeps going up every single year. This year the School Board raised their property taxes which means we will have to dish out another $170.00 for the year. Take this amount times 10 and in 10 years that is an additional $1,700.00!!!! We can't keep up with this pace. And that is, if it doesn't go any higher or Dauphin County commissioners decide not to raise theirs as well. That's a double whammy!
In the past 5 years that we have started mortgage payments, our payments went from $1,299 per month to $1,375, an increase of nearly $1,000.00 in five years! We don't receive raises to keep up with this, plus the other cost of living expenses, not to mention gasoline prices, electricity, etc. At this rate, we won't be able to afford to pay our mortgage and may be forced to sell our beautiful house simply because we can't afford to pay the property taxes anymore. Wait until the electric bill rises in a year or two to what they say it will, and what will we do?
Is it any wonder why there are more foreclosures in the US than ever before? Imagine how many people could afford to keep their homes if they didn't have to pay this ridiculous high fee. It could be applied to our mortgage!
I don't understand why the brunt of school education must come upon the homeowners, those who own a house and based on the value of a house! Obviously it may have worked a long time ago, but times have changed and this way is completely antiquated. We have no children yet we are the ones having to foot an almost $5,000 bill to pay for everyone else's children's education, when people who rent or have smaller properties don't have to worry about paying this amount. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL SOON DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! - Janet Smeltz and husband William Lahr, Millersburg, Dauphin County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I bought a home in Berks County in 2002 for me, my wife and three young children to live. We bought a home big enough for my family in an area we could afford for my wife to stay at home and raise the kids. It was important to us that she stays home and raises the children because we place a huge emphasis on being responsible, good parents. We have learned through our own parents and through research that it is so very important for a parent to be home when a child gets home from school. It is during these after school hours that children are more likely to get involved in alcohol or illegal drug use, gangs or violence, and sexual activity.
Since we have moved in we have watched our property taxes increase nearly $4000 in just a few short years (we now pay around $9000 per year). Much more than my small yearly increases pay me at work. We planned for yearly increases in property taxes but could never have imagined it to be this bad. It has forced my wife back to work which has had many bad effects on our family unit. First, several days a week my children are not met by a parent after school. Also, a large portion of her check goes to child care and the rest to help pay the property taxes. Now it is more difficult for them to be involved in after school activities such as sports because transportation back and forth is not guaranteed.
Our ability to save for college and retirement has nearly vanished. We can not move out of the area because houses are not selling in our neighborhood. This is just a short list of how out of control property taxes have impacted my family. The very money collected to improve and help fund public education is responsible for a significant negative impact to our children outside the schools. – Anonymous, Berks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In response to your compilation of real life stories of folks who are in distress from relentlessly increasing school property taxes, I have decided to add my family's story, in the hope that the legislative leaders and governor are able to comprehend the human side of this problem
Property taxes on my home are in excess of $6,000.00 each year. I live in constant fear of losing our home of 15 years due to this looming burden each year. Last year, my husband and I had to re-mortgage our home, increasing our monthly mortgage payment by $160.00 not to mention the additional costs of re-mortgage which included a pre-payment penalty of $8,000.00 on the mortgage that we had to pay off to re-mortgage to pay for the property taxes. We are both approaching 55 years of age, and are facing the prospect of having to pay for this home into our 80's.
I can recall last year, before we decided to re-mortgage the home to pay the property taxes, waking up each night, in the middle of the night, panic stricken as to where the money would come for the property taxes. I remember one early morning at 4 am, waking up and pulling out the telephone book to look up any place that may purchase old coins, etc., trying to see what I could sell to get this money. It was to no avail, and I really have no property worth selling to get enough money to pay the property taxes, other than my home.
I know of neighbors in our area who are unwilling to improve their homes, because their property taxes will increase, and they cannot afford the increase. We are not alone here.
I wonder if the legislators and governor even consider the citizens who may be constantly worrying, living in fear and panic, and trying to figure out where we will get this money each year, and would hate to lose their home? They have promised to use the money generated from gaming in Pennsylvania to help us with some of the tax burden, but now, I read, that it will only go to senior citizens. What about the rest of us? We work each day, and have to pay more and more in taxes that do not benefit us, i.e., Social Security and Medicare that will be exhausted when come of age.
Please come up with an alternate plan to fund the school system other than taxing people’s homes. The only way is complete tax relief, not partial relief for homeowners. – Anonymous, Earl Township, Berks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We live in the Coatesville Area School District in western Chester County. We must pay 1/4 of our fixed income for property taxes, and in years past it has reached 1/3 and we have never had any children in the schools. And we are not impressed with the outcomes of the kids we see graduating. We even wrote a column in a local paper about reform ideas.
REFORM IS IMPERATIVE!! Taxpayers ask for help and they call it socialized, yet that approach is everywhere including our military, roads, insurance industry, etc. Payment is not based on need or ability to pay. Soon we will be priced out of our home. Thanks for all you are doing. - Gregory Layton & Deborah Kates, Coatesville, Chester County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In 2005 due to the Lancaster County property reassessment, my Elizabethtown Area School District property taxes increased 21%. The following year, the school district "underestimated" the revenue they would receive from the reassessment, based their budget on the estimate and raised property taxes another 18%. With last year's increase, I am now paying 56% more in property taxes than I did 3 years ago. (The county property taxes have also increased by 37%.) It's a crime that school districts have no limits as to how much they can increase taxes. And you had better hope that you aren't in a school district where all of the farmland has been sold and rezoned residential. Now the school district is planning on more tax increases to pay for new buildings and resources to accommodate the additional students.
I have 2 sons who are attending a public school. I understand the value of funding school districts to provide my sons with adequate education. However, there are so many ways that the Pennsylvania school system could save taxpayer dollars. How many private sector businesses have such good health coverage? The deductible per person for my company's health insurance plan is $2,500, with employee contributions increasing each year. In the early 1990's my company changed over from a pension plan to an employee contributing/company matching (up to a certain percentage of my contribution) 401K plan. The funding of the school system's pensions and healthcare plans is taking a big bite of each school district's budget and needs to be reevaluated.
I'm trying to save for college for my sons, keep up with the rising cost of groceries and gas and bracing myself for the major price increase to my electric bill when the cap is removed in a couple of years. My company does not give cost of living increases and many times the average increase is below the estimated cost of living. On top of that, we're told we aren't saving enough for retirement. What's left to save?
I noted how few representatives voted for HB1275 that would have totally eliminated property taxes. I was pleased that my representative, Tom Creighton was one of the few who voted for the bill. I'm hoping that more taxpayers are noting how their representatives voted and will cast their electoral votes accordingly. – Anonymous, Lancaster County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As a small business owner and resident of the borough of Ringtown, Schuylkill County, I want to voice my concern about the outrageous school taxes which are imposed upon us by the NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL DISTRICT. Living and working in my community, both my fiancée and I spend nearly 10,000 dollars a year on school/property taxes. Yes, we are professionals and make a decent living, but our home is over 20 years old, and my business building is 100 years old!!
I understand the formula which states you are taxed upon what you were willing to pay for your property, but combine that with the school district board just raising taxes at their will to compensate for their gluttonous spending habits is outrageous!!
I meet a lot of people in my profession, local residents that is, and they all have one big concern - their taxes! As a businessman in my community I want to make it known that there is definitely a problem with our school taxes and something must be done without delay. - Albert Breznik, Jr., Schuylkill County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We are the Daughtrey's and we reside in York County, PA. We have one daughter who was diagnosed with Expressive Language Disorder and Auditory Processing Disorder. She attends a private school where this problem continued to be unnoticed despite being evaluated by the state funded Lincoln Intermediate Unit facility.
Because we were not satisfied with LIU's findings, we took it upon ourselves to find out what was exactly going on with our daughter. Through much research, my wife determined that it was the aforementioned disorders and after searching for a language therapist in the area, this was confirmed through rigorous testing. However, even though the modifications suggested by the therapist were given to the school, the school refused to meet with us and we have been finding that not all the modifications are being met despite it only being a classroom of 10.
After seeing the test results from the tests given by our personal therapist. LIU agreed to meet with our daughter in school for ½ hr once a week along with 3 other children at the same time. Because this is simply not enough time to make a difference, we found our own therapist who genuinely takes an interest in our daughter’s therapy sessions and is given undivided attention with no other children in the room.
Here's how our high property taxes affects this situation:
We had to pay for all the testing and all the therapy sessions given by our personal therapist. (Way over $1,000). Let me add that LIU didn't give our daughter all the tests needed to come to an accurate conclusion.
We are a one income family due to my wife's health issues. She has severe TMJ and is possibly looking at total TMJ replacement, none of which is covered by insurance, including a new mouth appliance which was $600.
My wife also was born with a cervical rib on her 7th vertebrae which gives her Thoratic Outlet Syndrome. She sees a chiropractor for this weekly @ $20 ea. visit which totals another $80-$100 month.
We have to pull our daughter out of private school cause of the tuition costs and because she needs a one on one teaching method. This would not be given in the public school or private school.
We had to buy all our home school supplies ($500). Let me not that we wouldn't be home schooling if it weren't for our daughter’s disorders. This will be an annual expense and will increase with each grade.
We don't see why we should have to pay school tax when our daughter will not even be going to public school or using any of their facilities or curriculum. It's not our fault that she has these disorders (she was adopted) and we are trying to do everything we can to make sure she has a chance at succeeding in life despite the disorders which she'll struggle with her whole life.
Needless to say, we don't have the money to make the house repairs on our home and it would be nice if the property taxes would be eliminated or decreased as to take some of this burden off our shoulders. – York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
My husband and I got married and bought a home in Schuylkill County that we could raise a family in. We have been blessed with 3 children and recently our school district (Blue Mountain) has decided to appeal our "fair market value".
We bought our home before the housing bubble burst and our home is no longer worth what we paid. Yet Blue Mountain wants to tax us on what we paid, not its current value. We both work and scrape by as it is. The reality of the "American Dream" has turned out to be much different than what we had envisioned when we started our family. I pray that people like you will help families across Pennsylvania regain that original vision of the "American Dream". For sakes of our children property tax reform must become the number one priority in our state legislature. – Anonymous, Schuylkill County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It should be noted that I know many people that are living pay check to pay check here in the beautiful endless mountains between taxes and energy costs. Many are carrying balances on their energy bills unable to keep up with them and these are people in some cases who are working 60 hours a week. - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I am in total support of eliminating the school tax. It can no longer be tied to anyone's property. It is an unfair, oppressive and harmful tax. It is a cancer on the economy of the state and our representatives need to see it as such. The taxes have grown into an unbearable burden for the majority of homeowners. It is becoming impossible for potential new homeowners to realize the American Dream. There are much better and equitable solutions. If this situation is not settled in the very near future the state of Pennsylvania will suffer needlessly. Its current leaders will be held accountable for their inability to take the steps necessary for reform. The voters will take action by remembering when the current representatives are up for re-election. They need to unite as the solutions already exist and when implemented will benefit everyone who call this beautiful state it's home. Time is of the Essence. – Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
My name is Sean Linville I am a Homeowner in Pottstown, Montgomery County. I am writing in response to a news article in the mercury paper on March 27th. I FULLY AGREE!!!!!
For months now I have been trying to express my opinions to certain lawmakers, ones who agree with the amendment and those who do not. I am fortunate to live in Rep Quigley's District as he has co-founded the entire idea. Though I am unfortunate in respect to the idea that I have no school age children and I live in the worst suburban school district there is and to add insult it is also one of the highest in taxes. Our children receive a poor education value while the school board rakes in over an 18% pay increase. Absolutely ridiculous, our principal in Pottstown does the worst job in education and school safety yet he is paid more than his peers in other schools.
Our administrators saw fit to give each other astounding increases in pay and for what scholastic benefit? I am sorry but I don’t see how an administrative assistant needs to be making a 6 figure salary it’s way too high. Now get this they are eligible for another pay increase in just a few months but they haven’t done a thing to improve our school system or to allay the constituent’s worries of where our money is going. I have a very modest single family home with just over 1000 square feet and I pay $2900 in school taxes alone. My child is only 10 months old but I will be damned if I would send her to any Pottstown school. I could rant for hours about the inabilities of our school system but i have taken up much of your time. thank you for inviting me to speak my mind if I can be of any service in this matter please contact me. – Sean Linville, Montgomery County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well--------It has finally happened. I now have to put my Home of Tweny-Nine (29) years up for sale. I have been living in the same School District (Owen J. Roberts) in Chester County for all of those twenty-nine years and I have never once seen a year that School Property Taxes didn't increase. Now that I am retired and have been struggling for the past twelve years, to keep my home due to rising property taxes, I am ready to "throw in the towel".
I have earnestly tried to keep the School District from raising our taxes, but all of my efforts have been in vain. I organized a Taxpayers Group, we campaigned via post cards requesting no increases, we wrote a request to the PA Department of Education requesting a Management Assessment be performed on the District (we were refused) and even volunteered at the Voting Polls to get a Majority on our School Board. It appears all of our efforts have fallen on Deaf Ears because each year the District raises Taxes, even though the last few years there has been and EXCESS of Revenue over Costs (8.0 Million Plus in 2006-2007 and 14.0 Million Plus in 2007-2008). It appears that the District just wants to build more buildings and/or renovate and add more Administrators and Directors to the School's Staff.
In my position, as the President of the Taxpayers Alliance, I have heard many, many, many stories whereas Senior Citizens had to sell their homes and move in with their children, go into a home for the elderly, move to another state, away from friends and loved ones, or try to find cheaper housing in order to exist on their paltry incomes. This situation MUST COME TO AN END. Property taxes must be eliminated entirely, as other states have accomplished. We're tired of hearing about empty promises---we're tired of disappointments---we're tired of ineffectual performance---but we're not tired enough not to go to VOTE! - Eugene P. Endress, Chester County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We pay about $3,000 in taxes, including school, county and municipal. My husband and I are on a fixed income, and live in Bensalem in a modest 55+ condominium community. Since we moved here, I have watched the taxes increase over the last 4 years. My husband has Alzheimer's disease and the cost of care is only going to increase over the years. The cost of living is increasing at an alarming rate, where will this end?
I am a Registered Nurse and because of his need for constant care, I cannot return to work. What has happened to tax relief from the Casino industry? What has happened to our Legislature so that nothing can be done? How many good Senators and Representatives are we going lose due to their frustration with the procrastination of this body? I am sick of this, have heard about tax relief for 4 years, and the taxes still climb. Thank you for this forum. You have my vote and anything I can do to help. - Eloise Tatro, Bensalem, Bucks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I live in Brentwood, PA. I have a modest house, but the real estate taxes are out of control. My neighbors are having to sell their homes because they can't afford the RE taxes. I helped my mother-in-law take out a home equity loan against her house JUST to be able to pay the annual RE taxes in the last few years. Enough already. - Paul Kostyak, Brentwood, Allegheny County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Last week I received a call from a 71 year old widow who was forced to raid her tax savings fund to pay for fuel oil and now has no way to pay her property taxes. She keeps her thermostat at 56 degrees, basically lives in one room with a space heater, and has gone back to work cleaning houses so she can afford to buy food. This woman lives in a very modest house in a school district where last year the district was granted an exception to the Act 1 index and raised property taxes by 8.6%; they were granted an exception again this year and will increase taxes 6.7%. That's more than 15% in two years. This woman is despondent from the fear of losing her home and having no place to live. This MUST end! - Anonymous, Berks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This whole thing just sucks! Working mans speak. No politics, no favors, no feely good bull crap. Plain and simple, something has to be done. The Elderly forced back to work or completely helpless to increase their financial state. The working family, reduced to working more and spending less time with kids, or working less and cutting out necessities. Or even people like me, single, yes single people are getting killed too. My mortgage has gone from $830.00 to $1050.00 per month in a 5 year period solely due to property tax increases.
Five years ago I felt owning instead of renting was the way to go, a small struggle but very doable at $800.00 a month. But now almost $250.00 more each month extra, not doable. I, too, have oil heat and have spent my first winter with my thermostat in the low 60's, confining myself mostly to one room with a space heater. Didn't help my electric bill, but better than my last delivery of 280 gallons of oil for $850.00. When I moved in 5 years ago it cost me $250.00 to fill my tank.
Oh and I can't wait till the Electricity companies get to raised their rates by 40 to 200 percent??? And Gas prices have almost tripled and I hear talk of another 50 cents tax per gallon for the stupid falsity of global warming. Then the ethanol. JOKE! Food prices out of control, the crap doesn't burn properly, and now the environmentalists claim it's polluting worse than the gasoline. What in the hell is going on?
I'm working 70 hours a week and falling behind. No vacations, no eating out, no new cars, no, no, no. This isn't America anymore. It is supposed to be, the harder you work the further you get. Now the harder you work, the more some one else thinks they have a right to take. And the taking usually derives from our government and their stupid ideas, mandates and laws. Everything I touch, tax, tax, tax. ENOUGH!!! And we need to start with the most outrageous of them all. Please relieve me from being a 24-365 ATM for my school district. And more new schools coming I hear, here comes another $50.00 per month next year. Unbelievable.....Help!!!!!!!!! - Mark Tobias, Exeter Township, Berks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We had a retiree from Bethlehem Steel attend our meetings. When Bethlehem Steel claimed bankruptcy, he lost two-thirds of his pension and all of his health care. His wife is diabetic and was on two medications for it. Due to school taxes, they could not afford one of her medications, so she was going without it. Bottom line, they sold their house and moved in with one of their children, which was not the solution any of them wanted.
A widow bought the house trailer and land that she lives in in the 1950's. She receives only social security. She has to save 4 months of her Social Security to pay her taxes and is struggling.
A 49-year old, divorced with 2 children, bought his house and a lot next to it. Two separate deeds. He planned on using the lot to build a small home when he retired and selling the house. He can no longer afford to pay the taxes, so his house is on the market as well as the lot.
I have many more stories like these. – M.L., Taxpayer Advocate, York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
When may PA homeowners expect school and real estate tax relief legislation? We're all still waiting for those dollars from the casinos promised so long ago. Meanwhile we can barely hang onto our homes. My wife and I have had to yearly sell personal property or take out loans just to pay the ever increasing real estate taxes. Being in the fastest growing school district in the state means large, yearly increases to our tax bill that is already so extremely onerous we can barely survive on two incomes.
As a small business owner I've had to sell equipment such as my sawmill just to keep from being delinquent on our school taxes. School taxes prohibit me from investing to grow my business! School taxes discourage me from making home improvements or additions also. I'd like to increase my home equity but I can't afford the subsequent increase in taxes if I should do so. That hurts me, the banks, the stores where I would buy materials, etc.
So I hope you can see the tremendous drain on the entire PA economy due to the constant, shockingly high increases we are burdened with every year. It's enough to make families look for another state to live, work and operate their business in as the prospect of retiring in PA is frightening to say the least.
Please, please, please provide taxpayer relief immediately to the hardworking homeowners of Pennsylvania. Thank you. - James M. Rourke, Pike County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I am one who struggles with the burden of paying school property tax. My story in a nutshell is that I'm a full time plus hard working PA citizen in Southern York County. When I bought this house in 2001 this was an affordable place to live. I had plans of fixing up this old house and making it place that I would retire in someday.
Well, as I make more income, I actually make less. With the continual rising school property tax, as well as heating, fuel and food cost, I barely get by. I'm also now retired from the PA Army National Guard in which total time of service counting full time Army and PA Army National Guard is cumulatively 23 years of service, 18 months of which included recent service in Iraq.
While in Iraq I sustained injury that has left me partially disabled. Not a fact I'm proud of, but nonetheless a fact which limits my abilities. I just don't know how many jobs I should have to sustain the cost of living in PA. Until recent years, one full time job was enough, a job I've been doing over 15 years, and that just doesn't cut it anymore. I've done with minimal heating requirements since being home from Iraq, just warm enough to keep the pipes from freezing, but cold enough to have seen my own breath inside.
I'm not one who wants a handout, nor would I accept it, but it seems the school tax is an abused handout that is greeted with open arms. It seems the schools districts have an endless well from which can be tapped whenever the need arises from the taxpayers. Why should someone who has no children in school pay a school tax when a renter with a household of children pay none?
The elimination of school property tax has been kicked around for quite some time, and each time it fails to be passed. I would like to know how can this be? I know of no resident that has stated "I like paying my school tax." In a sense, that's what not passing the elimination means to me. Is the state saying the citizens agree with the payment of school tax? They are to pass the peoples will.
I would find it hard to believe that even teachers in this state enjoy getting the school tax bill in the mail. School tax seems more along the lines of organized crime. It seems we pay extortion or have your property seized. State government always seems like legalized crime. Very few seem to listen to the voice of the people but instead feel their representation can choose what is best for me. I don't think so. It's seems to be more along the lines of selected kings in the state government rather than elected officials. It seems the public smoking is a more important issue than school property tax.
How is this fair? I have I neighbor that has lived in her house since 1953 and will be moving out this Saturday. Why? She had to sell because she can no longer afford the taxes. Another neighbor who is also a senior citizen built his own home himself. Laid every course of block, framed every stud, and nailed every shingle. He paid tax on the materials as he bought them. If he would have laid the materials in a pile, he would have never been taxed again but being he used the materials in a constructive manner to form his residence, he is penalized every year after. Just doesn't seem right.
Now I agree all should pay their fair share, it just seems the citizens of PA differ with the state government as to what fair actually is. We pay the Legislators to act in our best interest, exercise our voice and carry out our will. Sounds good in theory. It's good to know I contribute to the pay, benefits and needs of our Legislator while citizens go without. Whatever happened to the surplus revenue and how about those good ol' slot machines? Should make a really nice soccer stadium huh?
Here's a thought,,, This state has supplied the War on Terror with more citizen/soldiers than any other state. How about Big Ed giving the soldiers a tax break that have and continue to provide him the freedom to tax and spend it's citizens in to a welfare state??
My choices are to continue to do without or leave this state of corruption. – Anonymous, York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For our family and many others I know we have been hit harder and harder each year in York County with ever increasing and outrageous school taxes, and the districts keep raising them. We live in Northeastern School District, and we have the highest district tax of all, and they are raising it again. It's abominable. Our population is on the increase, and more and more homes go up, but they keep saying they have to raise it. Why, for 3 brand new schools, new sports fields. Where will it end? The districts have to be held in check. We can't pay it all.
Our family and many others have had to cut expenses, cancel trips, cut down on driving and get second jobs to make ends meet, just because of gas prices and food costs. We just refinanced before the big housing crunch and we are not sure if we can keep things going because of the tax situation. I may soon be looking for another job to help cover the house payment. Our mortgage keeps going up. I'm all for education, but lets get serious folks, these district autocrats need to have some control. The state can't keep bleeding all the money out of its citizens to pay for education. Where's the great relief from gambling Mr. Rendell? Yeah that worked well.
This district needs reigned in, big time!!! - Mike Mc., Manchester, York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The rich corporate fat cats don't care how many people lose their home's, that’s just more for them to buy up.
My brother and his wife and 2 daughters are losing their home due to high taxes and the price of gas. My brother has worked 27 years at New Cumberland army depot and drives 50 miles each way to work. The cost to heat my brother's home is $80.00 a day. How can retired citizens possibly pay taxes and heat??? How would you like to make that decision, taxes or heat?
I'm not retired but not far from it. Also a lot of retired citizens that can possibly work somewhere are working as long as they can. There was a 85 year old lady working at Wal-Mart that I talked to. How would you like your 85 year old mother having to work to make ends meet, that's crazy? This is happening all across the state; it's really bad in western PA where my Aunt lives
.
What has happened, it seems like I woke up one day and the world went crazy. I know we can't change the world and I also know these things must come to pass but it's hard to watch the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and now with the price of food how will these people eat? I fear it's going to get a lot worse if something isn't done.
WE CAN'T AFFORD ANYMORE TAXES!!!!! Wake up out there and GET A GRIP! - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm in the same place as the 71 year old woman. I was 2 years back in taxes. My husband had a terminal illness and passed in Oct. I took out a loan to pay taxes but now I have another bill to pay. I'm now back in taxes again from last year.
Still paying a mortgage with NO savings. I have no other income and am desperate. When you call anyone they tell you to sell your house. These are hard times and I should not be told I have to sell my home. This is all I have left.
Please somebody help. I've gone back to using my coal stove because I can't afford oil. Please help. - Carole Glanski, Pottstown, Montgomery County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After teaching in NJ for 40 years, and waiting every year for the local taxpayers to approve the school district's annual budget, I am amazed that Pennsylvanians have tolerated the current system so long. School directors suffer from a "pharaoh complex", spending OPM on the outward trappings of the schools, yet battling teachers every contract year in the name of fiscal responsibility. Taxpayers need to have control over school budgets, and caps are fine — but not if every appeal is rubber-stamped "approved". There needs to be a moratorium, or at least severe restrictions on school spending until a better plan can be developed. Unfortunately, the plan will probably be to increase taxation on those in the suburbs and rural areas and a transfer of money to urban schools where it will disappear in a dysfunctional bureaucracy.
The soaring burden of school taxes combined with the unconscionable increases in heating oil and gasoline and the coming 30+% increases in electricity will destroy many –elderly, retired, unemployed, and underemployed alike. – Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm writing my story regarding the outrageous School Property Taxes levied against PA Home Owners. I live in Bucks County PA. I strongly support the School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA). This would be a strong incentive for PA home Owners to stay in PA.
First and foremost, I don't consider school property taxes as taxes; I consider the taxes as a second mortgage. We moved into our single family home last year. The day before we moved on June 30, I lost my job, can't obtain another one, and don't have unemployment benefits anymore. We're in a severe financial bind. So school property taxes are very important to us
It came to our attention after we moved in, school property taxes in the Morrisville Borough in the last three years have increased over $400 a year. This has raised school property taxes from about $2,100 in 2005 to $3,382 in 2007 with no end in sight. The borough raised school property taxes to build a new school, but the borough never did due to the opposition of the Morrisville residents. We voted in a new school board last year, and the school board promised to only raise school property taxes 4.4% for this school calendar year. However our concern is what's going to happen the next year?
This November the PA Home Owners need to exercise "GRIP". GRIP is the acronym from Get Rid of The Incumbents. If no progress is made, we need to "clean house", and elect state reps who don't submit to special interests, and pass a viable resolution. Instead we have a Governor and a State Legislature with gridlock and unwillingness to resolve this issue. Even though many of these politicians "ran" on a platform to resolve this issue last election. We need "GRIP" to address our Gripe. However we must keep the state reps who support legislation to resolve this issue in office, so we don't "throw the baby out with the bath water".
As a PA Home Owner, I've written to Governor Rendell and the Local PA State Reps Hon. Rep Galloway, Hon. Melio, and Hon. Chris King regarding this issue. So what's their solution? Gridlock and "Smoke Screen" tactics. If you're going to criticize a recommendation, then respond with a viable solution! I consider our governor and state legislature to be "out of touch" with their constituents.
I know sooner or later, my wife and I will have to leave PA and probably move to DE, a state with the lowest taxes nationally. It’s not that far away. My second mortgage, er, my school property taxes, are going to force us to move in a few years if nothing is done. Please vote out of office the politicians who are blocking the viable resolutions like the School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA). - Edward Grassinger, Morrisville, Bucks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have a wife and three children and as it stands right now about 15 percent of my before tax income goes to pay our school property tax bill. I can't even save money for my own kids’ future education. – Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We are both 70, living on a fixed income. Until this year we felt comfortable. We've watched our property taxes (both County and School taxes) double in less than ten years. It hasn't been uncommon to see increases by York County of 25 and 33%. School taxes have on occasion been 25%. We've been on fixed income 8 of the 10 years.
To make matters worse, we had been depending on our nest egg to provide 5% interest income to carry cost of living increases. Lately it's impossible to find CD rates above 3.5%. The difference between 3.5% and 5% is almost a 40% decrease. (1% decrease using 5% is a 20% drop). Point is we have lost that cushion.
Everyday we are "nickled and dimed" at the grocery store, gas pump, and taxes. We've gone from using oil (1000 gal oil tank, used to buy 700 gals, no more) to a pellet insert to save fuel costs. We literally live in front of the pellet stove in our living room. But, this isn't unusual or unique; a lot of people are a lot worse off. I personally know a few. I used to burn scrap wood in the yard. Now I make sure to give it to a needy neighbor.
All I want to ask is, when the hell does government ever conserve or cut taxes. Never!
We have paid off the mortgage on 3 homes in our life time. Because of property taxes we have never owned one of these houses without an encumbrance (property taxes). So we could be evicted by government any time (think about it all the time). We buy a car, pay the taxes and every year a registration fee. On and on and on. Never stops. We are lucky to "own" the clothes on our backs. - Richard Radecke, York County
Its time the Representative of Pennsylvania get off their *** and pass the School TAX Elimination Bill. I have neighbors that are in their 70's having to work just so they don't lose their home to the school boards. I have friends and family who are say enough is enough and selling their homes and leaving Pa. because they can't afford the School Boards wishes for football stadium and Astroturf. It’s becoming Taxation without representation. YES you may be elected but once in the POLITICIANS DO WHAT THEY AND THEIR LOBBYISTS WANT! It comes down to the Hell what the PEOPLE WANT!
Come November. I will be casting my VOTE to Oust any elected official including SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS who voted against the school tax elimination bill was absent from voting for the school tax elimination bill.
I believe in fair taxation. But the Property owners of PA are getting it up the *** while renters and trailer park dwellers slip by with meager school taxes. I know the property owners of the rental units and trailer park owners pay taxes but I am sure they do not pay the same percentage rate or have tax write offs that counter acts their losses! And they pass some if not all of the cost on to the renters.
My SCHOOL TAX last year was $5900.00 + $1400 in property tax =$7300. Breaking it down that's $608.34 every month. That's more than some people pay in rent or mortgage. It's like buying a new car that you don't even get to OWN. Let’s make taxation FAIR for all! - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It is not just the senior citizens who are having difficulty. My husband and I are a stone's throw from being senior citizens, but after losing our jobs two years apart, (thank you NAFTA) and having to absolutely scrape and scrounge for almost 4 years while my husband returned to college and get a degree in a different line of work, and finally land a job, we have suffered tremendously, and while all the while the property tax kept climbing, and has for 15 years while wages stayed stagnant. We just made it by the skin of our teeth after going through ALL our savings and having to start over, and with the heating oil prices going through the roof now, it is another really bad situation
I absolutely cannot believe how anyone can make it much longer. Look around you! Those who you think might be doing okay, are maxing out their credit cards just to pay taxes, eat, pay mortgages, and gas their cars for work! Well get ready, because when the middle class goes down, it will funnel to the very ones who are responsible for this corruption. There will not be any more bones to pick clean. The greed and deceit will finally catch up with this corrupt government here in PA. It is more than obvious that the school board/teacher's union is deplorable. They are stupid, greedy, and totally rigid in their mindset against a "fair" sales tax (the fair and equitable proposal they continue to block) that would end this horror for homeowners, and make it possible for parents to feed, clothe, house, and maybe even relax and de-stress, and spend some quality time for role modeling and doing some teaching with their own children. It would also force responsibility on the part of run-a-way spending. I am sick of my tax money being either wasted down the toilet or downright stolen. At the very least, use the money wisely!!! That has not and is not happening!
It is not the local taxpayers who are fiscally irresponsible either. Most of us are really quite frugal. It is absolutely our lawmakers yielding to special interests, and greasing each others paws who are never held accountable, and get off with a light slap on the hand when they are exposed!
Wake up and look and around you at the state of the economy. We are drowning in this mess.
More people are getting mad. I think the day of the tar and feathers will return. The electorate better listen this time around! - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Property taxes take 3 of my 12 Social Security checks this year. This is 25% of my sole income. 6 of our 7 children were educated in the parochial system, the last one over 30 years ago, yet we paid school taxes all these years, and are still paying (increasing) school taxes. This is an outrage!!!! - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We are retired senior citizens and are upset with the legislators in Harrisburg. They are totally ignoring the needs of the citizens of Pennsylvania. First of all they get an incredible salary one of the highest in the nation further they get unwarranted perks such as a free new car maybe a Cadillac to run around in, per diem and what are we paying those useless lawmakers for?
They are a self-centered group who do nothing and pass laws to give away money for ballparks and beer companies, for example Governor Rendall signed into law the loan guarantees and money to Pittsburgh Brewing Co in Pittsburgh, guess what Pittsburgh Brewing Co is taking that money and they said they are targeting the younger group with fancy looking beer bottles, how many youngster will drive and drink and be killed and or kill someone in a car wreck?
The loan guarantees and money provided to Pittsburgh Brewing Co is approximately $750,000, yes that’s correct an astonishing $750,000. Will the state of Pennsylvania ever get that money back from payments, no, Pittsburgh Brewing Co will declare bankruptcy again.
Where has common sense gone and further I see a lot of baseball fields not even being used in the spring and summer months, empty why, thousands of needless money spent and oh yes the ridiculous monuments that are placed costing thousands of dollars, why?
We need to fire half the legislators in Harrisburg, vote them out of office and get someone elected that are concerned about tax reform and abolish the School Tax and other nuisance taxes. Senior citizens are losing their houses every day and live almost in poverty while the greedy legislators in Pennsylvania live the life of rich and other wise useless lawmakers, lets turn that around and get tax reform and help the citizens of Pennsylvania, we deserve better. - Ralph and Katie
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I've been a resident of Aston Township, Delaware County for 25 years and will be retiring in just over one year. I'm very concerned about the property tax situation as it is affecting senior citizens in our township.
Many of my neighbors have had to sell their family home and move to the state of Delaware because property taxes have more than doubled over the last few years. I don't wish to sell my house, or work until the day I die, to pay the ever increasing property taxes in this district. There doesn't seem to be any representation on the school board for senior citizens.
My property taxes are presently 45 percent of what my Social Security benefit will be. That's before deductions for Medicare! How will I live? - Bob K, Aston Township, Delaware County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hi, my name is Barbara Filipiak and I have an Income Tax Service in Fawn Grove/New Park area of York County. I see a large amount of people each tax season, and I am hearing a lot of complaints about our high property tax. My Clients are very concerned about losing their homes due to the increase in property taxes. Clients are telling me if something is not done to eliminate the School Property tax that they will be forced to sale there homes and move out of the state. This is not just seniors it is young and middle class people, all struggling to keep there homes. It is time to take action and vote for the Property Taxes to be eliminated once and for all. Let our people be released of this uncalled for debt so they can enjoy there homes without the worry of losing them. Take a stand lawmakers to eliminate the School Property Tax by doing the job you were hired to do. - Barbara Filipiak, York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I sent the following to Rep. Sue Helm and never heard a word back. She was one of those who went to the other side and voted to support Perzel's amendment, when she acted like she was interested in helping abolish property taxes. It really was disappointing to me and my husband that she pretended to be interested by sending us a survey, yet did nothing in the end.
We live in a house in Millersburg, Dauphin County, and I absolutely love living back along the mountain where I can go running through the trails and enjoy the scenery. We paid $210,000 for our house. It came with 5 acres of land and that is why it is valued higher than most homes in our area. We have to pay a 30 year mortgage like most people, and our income combined totals around $67,000. But we are frustrated by the fact that we have to pay almost $5,000 a year in property taxes! My sister lives in California near Los Angeles, has a nice house, valued twice the value of ours, and pays maybe half the amount we pay. Our property tax amounts to approx. $400 of the mortgage payment we make every month. This is money that we could be putting towards our entire mortgage payment. Instead we struggle with making these payments and are fearful that there will someday be a day that we can't afford to make our mortgage payments because our property tax payments are greater than the actual mortgage amount. It just keeps going up every single year. This year the School Board raised their property taxes which means we will have to dish out another $170.00 for the year. Take this amount times 10 and in 10 years that is an additional $1,700.00!!!! We can't keep up with this pace. And that is, if it doesn't go any higher or Dauphin County commissioners decide not to raise theirs as well. That's a double whammy!
In the past 5 years that we have started mortgage payments, our payments went from $1,299 per month to $1,375, an increase of nearly $1,000.00 in five years! We don't receive raises to keep up with this, plus the other cost of living expenses, not to mention gasoline prices, electricity, etc. At this rate, we won't be able to afford to pay our mortgage and may be forced to sell our beautiful house simply because we can't afford to pay the property taxes anymore. Wait until the electric bill rises in a year or two to what they say it will, and what will we do?
Is it any wonder why there are more foreclosures in the US than ever before? Imagine how many people could afford to keep their homes if they didn't have to pay this ridiculous high fee. It could be applied to our mortgage!
I don't understand why the brunt of school education must come upon the homeowners, those who own a house and based on the value of a house! Obviously it may have worked a long time ago, but times have changed and this way is completely antiquated. We have no children yet we are the ones having to foot an almost $5,000 bill to pay for everyone else's children's education, when people who rent or have smaller properties don't have to worry about paying this amount. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL SOON DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! - Janet Smeltz and husband William Lahr, Millersburg, Dauphin County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I bought a home in Berks County in 2002 for me, my wife and three young children to live. We bought a home big enough for my family in an area we could afford for my wife to stay at home and raise the kids. It was important to us that she stays home and raises the children because we place a huge emphasis on being responsible, good parents. We have learned through our own parents and through research that it is so very important for a parent to be home when a child gets home from school. It is during these after school hours that children are more likely to get involved in alcohol or illegal drug use, gangs or violence, and sexual activity.
Since we have moved in we have watched our property taxes increase nearly $4000 in just a few short years (we now pay around $9000 per year). Much more than my small yearly increases pay me at work. We planned for yearly increases in property taxes but could never have imagined it to be this bad. It has forced my wife back to work which has had many bad effects on our family unit. First, several days a week my children are not met by a parent after school. Also, a large portion of her check goes to child care and the rest to help pay the property taxes. Now it is more difficult for them to be involved in after school activities such as sports because transportation back and forth is not guaranteed.
Our ability to save for college and retirement has nearly vanished. We can not move out of the area because houses are not selling in our neighborhood. This is just a short list of how out of control property taxes have impacted my family. The very money collected to improve and help fund public education is responsible for a significant negative impact to our children outside the schools. – Anonymous, Berks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In response to your compilation of real life stories of folks who are in distress from relentlessly increasing school property taxes, I have decided to add my family's story, in the hope that the legislative leaders and governor are able to comprehend the human side of this problem
Property taxes on my home are in excess of $6,000.00 each year. I live in constant fear of losing our home of 15 years due to this looming burden each year. Last year, my husband and I had to re-mortgage our home, increasing our monthly mortgage payment by $160.00 not to mention the additional costs of re-mortgage which included a pre-payment penalty of $8,000.00 on the mortgage that we had to pay off to re-mortgage to pay for the property taxes. We are both approaching 55 years of age, and are facing the prospect of having to pay for this home into our 80's.
I can recall last year, before we decided to re-mortgage the home to pay the property taxes, waking up each night, in the middle of the night, panic stricken as to where the money would come for the property taxes. I remember one early morning at 4 am, waking up and pulling out the telephone book to look up any place that may purchase old coins, etc., trying to see what I could sell to get this money. It was to no avail, and I really have no property worth selling to get enough money to pay the property taxes, other than my home.
I know of neighbors in our area who are unwilling to improve their homes, because their property taxes will increase, and they cannot afford the increase. We are not alone here.
I wonder if the legislators and governor even consider the citizens who may be constantly worrying, living in fear and panic, and trying to figure out where we will get this money each year, and would hate to lose their home? They have promised to use the money generated from gaming in Pennsylvania to help us with some of the tax burden, but now, I read, that it will only go to senior citizens. What about the rest of us? We work each day, and have to pay more and more in taxes that do not benefit us, i.e., Social Security and Medicare that will be exhausted when come of age.
Please come up with an alternate plan to fund the school system other than taxing people’s homes. The only way is complete tax relief, not partial relief for homeowners. – Anonymous, Earl Township, Berks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We live in the Coatesville Area School District in western Chester County. We must pay 1/4 of our fixed income for property taxes, and in years past it has reached 1/3 and we have never had any children in the schools. And we are not impressed with the outcomes of the kids we see graduating. We even wrote a column in a local paper about reform ideas.
REFORM IS IMPERATIVE!! Taxpayers ask for help and they call it socialized, yet that approach is everywhere including our military, roads, insurance industry, etc. Payment is not based on need or ability to pay. Soon we will be priced out of our home. Thanks for all you are doing. - Gregory Layton & Deborah Kates, Coatesville, Chester County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In 2005 due to the Lancaster County property reassessment, my Elizabethtown Area School District property taxes increased 21%. The following year, the school district "underestimated" the revenue they would receive from the reassessment, based their budget on the estimate and raised property taxes another 18%. With last year's increase, I am now paying 56% more in property taxes than I did 3 years ago. (The county property taxes have also increased by 37%.) It's a crime that school districts have no limits as to how much they can increase taxes. And you had better hope that you aren't in a school district where all of the farmland has been sold and rezoned residential. Now the school district is planning on more tax increases to pay for new buildings and resources to accommodate the additional students.
I have 2 sons who are attending a public school. I understand the value of funding school districts to provide my sons with adequate education. However, there are so many ways that the Pennsylvania school system could save taxpayer dollars. How many private sector businesses have such good health coverage? The deductible per person for my company's health insurance plan is $2,500, with employee contributions increasing each year. In the early 1990's my company changed over from a pension plan to an employee contributing/company matching (up to a certain percentage of my contribution) 401K plan. The funding of the school system's pensions and healthcare plans is taking a big bite of each school district's budget and needs to be reevaluated.
I'm trying to save for college for my sons, keep up with the rising cost of groceries and gas and bracing myself for the major price increase to my electric bill when the cap is removed in a couple of years. My company does not give cost of living increases and many times the average increase is below the estimated cost of living. On top of that, we're told we aren't saving enough for retirement. What's left to save?
I noted how few representatives voted for HB1275 that would have totally eliminated property taxes. I was pleased that my representative, Tom Creighton was one of the few who voted for the bill. I'm hoping that more taxpayers are noting how their representatives voted and will cast their electoral votes accordingly. – Anonymous, Lancaster County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As a small business owner and resident of the borough of Ringtown, Schuylkill County, I want to voice my concern about the outrageous school taxes which are imposed upon us by the NORTH SCHUYLKILL SCHOOL DISTRICT. Living and working in my community, both my fiancée and I spend nearly 10,000 dollars a year on school/property taxes. Yes, we are professionals and make a decent living, but our home is over 20 years old, and my business building is 100 years old!!
I understand the formula which states you are taxed upon what you were willing to pay for your property, but combine that with the school district board just raising taxes at their will to compensate for their gluttonous spending habits is outrageous!!
I meet a lot of people in my profession, local residents that is, and they all have one big concern - their taxes! As a businessman in my community I want to make it known that there is definitely a problem with our school taxes and something must be done without delay. - Albert Breznik, Jr., Schuylkill County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We are the Daughtrey's and we reside in York County, PA. We have one daughter who was diagnosed with Expressive Language Disorder and Auditory Processing Disorder. She attends a private school where this problem continued to be unnoticed despite being evaluated by the state funded Lincoln Intermediate Unit facility.
Because we were not satisfied with LIU's findings, we took it upon ourselves to find out what was exactly going on with our daughter. Through much research, my wife determined that it was the aforementioned disorders and after searching for a language therapist in the area, this was confirmed through rigorous testing. However, even though the modifications suggested by the therapist were given to the school, the school refused to meet with us and we have been finding that not all the modifications are being met despite it only being a classroom of 10.
After seeing the test results from the tests given by our personal therapist. LIU agreed to meet with our daughter in school for ½ hr once a week along with 3 other children at the same time. Because this is simply not enough time to make a difference, we found our own therapist who genuinely takes an interest in our daughter’s therapy sessions and is given undivided attention with no other children in the room.
Here's how our high property taxes affects this situation:
We had to pay for all the testing and all the therapy sessions given by our personal therapist. (Way over $1,000). Let me add that LIU didn't give our daughter all the tests needed to come to an accurate conclusion.
We are a one income family due to my wife's health issues. She has severe TMJ and is possibly looking at total TMJ replacement, none of which is covered by insurance, including a new mouth appliance which was $600.
My wife also was born with a cervical rib on her 7th vertebrae which gives her Thoratic Outlet Syndrome. She sees a chiropractor for this weekly @ $20 ea. visit which totals another $80-$100 month.
We have to pull our daughter out of private school cause of the tuition costs and because she needs a one on one teaching method. This would not be given in the public school or private school.
We had to buy all our home school supplies ($500). Let me not that we wouldn't be home schooling if it weren't for our daughter’s disorders. This will be an annual expense and will increase with each grade.
We don't see why we should have to pay school tax when our daughter will not even be going to public school or using any of their facilities or curriculum. It's not our fault that she has these disorders (she was adopted) and we are trying to do everything we can to make sure she has a chance at succeeding in life despite the disorders which she'll struggle with her whole life.
Needless to say, we don't have the money to make the house repairs on our home and it would be nice if the property taxes would be eliminated or decreased as to take some of this burden off our shoulders. – York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
My husband and I got married and bought a home in Schuylkill County that we could raise a family in. We have been blessed with 3 children and recently our school district (Blue Mountain) has decided to appeal our "fair market value".
We bought our home before the housing bubble burst and our home is no longer worth what we paid. Yet Blue Mountain wants to tax us on what we paid, not its current value. We both work and scrape by as it is. The reality of the "American Dream" has turned out to be much different than what we had envisioned when we started our family. I pray that people like you will help families across Pennsylvania regain that original vision of the "American Dream". For sakes of our children property tax reform must become the number one priority in our state legislature. – Anonymous, Schuylkill County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It should be noted that I know many people that are living pay check to pay check here in the beautiful endless mountains between taxes and energy costs. Many are carrying balances on their energy bills unable to keep up with them and these are people in some cases who are working 60 hours a week. - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I am in total support of eliminating the school tax. It can no longer be tied to anyone's property. It is an unfair, oppressive and harmful tax. It is a cancer on the economy of the state and our representatives need to see it as such. The taxes have grown into an unbearable burden for the majority of homeowners. It is becoming impossible for potential new homeowners to realize the American Dream. There are much better and equitable solutions. If this situation is not settled in the very near future the state of Pennsylvania will suffer needlessly. Its current leaders will be held accountable for their inability to take the steps necessary for reform. The voters will take action by remembering when the current representatives are up for re-election. They need to unite as the solutions already exist and when implemented will benefit everyone who call this beautiful state it's home. Time is of the Essence. – Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
My name is Sean Linville I am a Homeowner in Pottstown, Montgomery County. I am writing in response to a news article in the mercury paper on March 27th. I FULLY AGREE!!!!!
For months now I have been trying to express my opinions to certain lawmakers, ones who agree with the amendment and those who do not. I am fortunate to live in Rep Quigley's District as he has co-founded the entire idea. Though I am unfortunate in respect to the idea that I have no school age children and I live in the worst suburban school district there is and to add insult it is also one of the highest in taxes. Our children receive a poor education value while the school board rakes in over an 18% pay increase. Absolutely ridiculous, our principal in Pottstown does the worst job in education and school safety yet he is paid more than his peers in other schools.
Our administrators saw fit to give each other astounding increases in pay and for what scholastic benefit? I am sorry but I don’t see how an administrative assistant needs to be making a 6 figure salary it’s way too high. Now get this they are eligible for another pay increase in just a few months but they haven’t done a thing to improve our school system or to allay the constituent’s worries of where our money is going. I have a very modest single family home with just over 1000 square feet and I pay $2900 in school taxes alone. My child is only 10 months old but I will be damned if I would send her to any Pottstown school. I could rant for hours about the inabilities of our school system but i have taken up much of your time. thank you for inviting me to speak my mind if I can be of any service in this matter please contact me. – Sean Linville, Montgomery County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well--------It has finally happened. I now have to put my Home of Tweny-Nine (29) years up for sale. I have been living in the same School District (Owen J. Roberts) in Chester County for all of those twenty-nine years and I have never once seen a year that School Property Taxes didn't increase. Now that I am retired and have been struggling for the past twelve years, to keep my home due to rising property taxes, I am ready to "throw in the towel".
I have earnestly tried to keep the School District from raising our taxes, but all of my efforts have been in vain. I organized a Taxpayers Group, we campaigned via post cards requesting no increases, we wrote a request to the PA Department of Education requesting a Management Assessment be performed on the District (we were refused) and even volunteered at the Voting Polls to get a Majority on our School Board. It appears all of our efforts have fallen on Deaf Ears because each year the District raises Taxes, even though the last few years there has been and EXCESS of Revenue over Costs (8.0 Million Plus in 2006-2007 and 14.0 Million Plus in 2007-2008). It appears that the District just wants to build more buildings and/or renovate and add more Administrators and Directors to the School's Staff.
In my position, as the President of the Taxpayers Alliance, I have heard many, many, many stories whereas Senior Citizens had to sell their homes and move in with their children, go into a home for the elderly, move to another state, away from friends and loved ones, or try to find cheaper housing in order to exist on their paltry incomes. This situation MUST COME TO AN END. Property taxes must be eliminated entirely, as other states have accomplished. We're tired of hearing about empty promises---we're tired of disappointments---we're tired of ineffectual performance---but we're not tired enough not to go to VOTE! - Eugene P. Endress, Chester County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We pay about $3,000 in taxes, including school, county and municipal. My husband and I are on a fixed income, and live in Bensalem in a modest 55+ condominium community. Since we moved here, I have watched the taxes increase over the last 4 years. My husband has Alzheimer's disease and the cost of care is only going to increase over the years. The cost of living is increasing at an alarming rate, where will this end?
I am a Registered Nurse and because of his need for constant care, I cannot return to work. What has happened to tax relief from the Casino industry? What has happened to our Legislature so that nothing can be done? How many good Senators and Representatives are we going lose due to their frustration with the procrastination of this body? I am sick of this, have heard about tax relief for 4 years, and the taxes still climb. Thank you for this forum. You have my vote and anything I can do to help. - Eloise Tatro, Bensalem, Bucks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I live in Brentwood, PA. I have a modest house, but the real estate taxes are out of control. My neighbors are having to sell their homes because they can't afford the RE taxes. I helped my mother-in-law take out a home equity loan against her house JUST to be able to pay the annual RE taxes in the last few years. Enough already. - Paul Kostyak, Brentwood, Allegheny County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Last week I received a call from a 71 year old widow who was forced to raid her tax savings fund to pay for fuel oil and now has no way to pay her property taxes. She keeps her thermostat at 56 degrees, basically lives in one room with a space heater, and has gone back to work cleaning houses so she can afford to buy food. This woman lives in a very modest house in a school district where last year the district was granted an exception to the Act 1 index and raised property taxes by 8.6%; they were granted an exception again this year and will increase taxes 6.7%. That's more than 15% in two years. This woman is despondent from the fear of losing her home and having no place to live. This MUST end! - Anonymous, Berks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This whole thing just sucks! Working mans speak. No politics, no favors, no feely good bull crap. Plain and simple, something has to be done. The Elderly forced back to work or completely helpless to increase their financial state. The working family, reduced to working more and spending less time with kids, or working less and cutting out necessities. Or even people like me, single, yes single people are getting killed too. My mortgage has gone from $830.00 to $1050.00 per month in a 5 year period solely due to property tax increases.
Five years ago I felt owning instead of renting was the way to go, a small struggle but very doable at $800.00 a month. But now almost $250.00 more each month extra, not doable. I, too, have oil heat and have spent my first winter with my thermostat in the low 60's, confining myself mostly to one room with a space heater. Didn't help my electric bill, but better than my last delivery of 280 gallons of oil for $850.00. When I moved in 5 years ago it cost me $250.00 to fill my tank.
Oh and I can't wait till the Electricity companies get to raised their rates by 40 to 200 percent??? And Gas prices have almost tripled and I hear talk of another 50 cents tax per gallon for the stupid falsity of global warming. Then the ethanol. JOKE! Food prices out of control, the crap doesn't burn properly, and now the environmentalists claim it's polluting worse than the gasoline. What in the hell is going on?
I'm working 70 hours a week and falling behind. No vacations, no eating out, no new cars, no, no, no. This isn't America anymore. It is supposed to be, the harder you work the further you get. Now the harder you work, the more some one else thinks they have a right to take. And the taking usually derives from our government and their stupid ideas, mandates and laws. Everything I touch, tax, tax, tax. ENOUGH!!! And we need to start with the most outrageous of them all. Please relieve me from being a 24-365 ATM for my school district. And more new schools coming I hear, here comes another $50.00 per month next year. Unbelievable.....Help!!!!!!!!! - Mark Tobias, Exeter Township, Berks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We had a retiree from Bethlehem Steel attend our meetings. When Bethlehem Steel claimed bankruptcy, he lost two-thirds of his pension and all of his health care. His wife is diabetic and was on two medications for it. Due to school taxes, they could not afford one of her medications, so she was going without it. Bottom line, they sold their house and moved in with one of their children, which was not the solution any of them wanted.
A widow bought the house trailer and land that she lives in in the 1950's. She receives only social security. She has to save 4 months of her Social Security to pay her taxes and is struggling.
A 49-year old, divorced with 2 children, bought his house and a lot next to it. Two separate deeds. He planned on using the lot to build a small home when he retired and selling the house. He can no longer afford to pay the taxes, so his house is on the market as well as the lot.
I have many more stories like these. – M.L., Taxpayer Advocate, York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
When may PA homeowners expect school and real estate tax relief legislation? We're all still waiting for those dollars from the casinos promised so long ago. Meanwhile we can barely hang onto our homes. My wife and I have had to yearly sell personal property or take out loans just to pay the ever increasing real estate taxes. Being in the fastest growing school district in the state means large, yearly increases to our tax bill that is already so extremely onerous we can barely survive on two incomes.
As a small business owner I've had to sell equipment such as my sawmill just to keep from being delinquent on our school taxes. School taxes prohibit me from investing to grow my business! School taxes discourage me from making home improvements or additions also. I'd like to increase my home equity but I can't afford the subsequent increase in taxes if I should do so. That hurts me, the banks, the stores where I would buy materials, etc.
So I hope you can see the tremendous drain on the entire PA economy due to the constant, shockingly high increases we are burdened with every year. It's enough to make families look for another state to live, work and operate their business in as the prospect of retiring in PA is frightening to say the least.
Please, please, please provide taxpayer relief immediately to the hardworking homeowners of Pennsylvania. Thank you. - James M. Rourke, Pike County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I am one who struggles with the burden of paying school property tax. My story in a nutshell is that I'm a full time plus hard working PA citizen in Southern York County. When I bought this house in 2001 this was an affordable place to live. I had plans of fixing up this old house and making it place that I would retire in someday.
Well, as I make more income, I actually make less. With the continual rising school property tax, as well as heating, fuel and food cost, I barely get by. I'm also now retired from the PA Army National Guard in which total time of service counting full time Army and PA Army National Guard is cumulatively 23 years of service, 18 months of which included recent service in Iraq.
While in Iraq I sustained injury that has left me partially disabled. Not a fact I'm proud of, but nonetheless a fact which limits my abilities. I just don't know how many jobs I should have to sustain the cost of living in PA. Until recent years, one full time job was enough, a job I've been doing over 15 years, and that just doesn't cut it anymore. I've done with minimal heating requirements since being home from Iraq, just warm enough to keep the pipes from freezing, but cold enough to have seen my own breath inside.
I'm not one who wants a handout, nor would I accept it, but it seems the school tax is an abused handout that is greeted with open arms. It seems the schools districts have an endless well from which can be tapped whenever the need arises from the taxpayers. Why should someone who has no children in school pay a school tax when a renter with a household of children pay none?
The elimination of school property tax has been kicked around for quite some time, and each time it fails to be passed. I would like to know how can this be? I know of no resident that has stated "I like paying my school tax." In a sense, that's what not passing the elimination means to me. Is the state saying the citizens agree with the payment of school tax? They are to pass the peoples will.
I would find it hard to believe that even teachers in this state enjoy getting the school tax bill in the mail. School tax seems more along the lines of organized crime. It seems we pay extortion or have your property seized. State government always seems like legalized crime. Very few seem to listen to the voice of the people but instead feel their representation can choose what is best for me. I don't think so. It's seems to be more along the lines of selected kings in the state government rather than elected officials. It seems the public smoking is a more important issue than school property tax.
How is this fair? I have I neighbor that has lived in her house since 1953 and will be moving out this Saturday. Why? She had to sell because she can no longer afford the taxes. Another neighbor who is also a senior citizen built his own home himself. Laid every course of block, framed every stud, and nailed every shingle. He paid tax on the materials as he bought them. If he would have laid the materials in a pile, he would have never been taxed again but being he used the materials in a constructive manner to form his residence, he is penalized every year after. Just doesn't seem right.
Now I agree all should pay their fair share, it just seems the citizens of PA differ with the state government as to what fair actually is. We pay the Legislators to act in our best interest, exercise our voice and carry out our will. Sounds good in theory. It's good to know I contribute to the pay, benefits and needs of our Legislator while citizens go without. Whatever happened to the surplus revenue and how about those good ol' slot machines? Should make a really nice soccer stadium huh?
Here's a thought,,, This state has supplied the War on Terror with more citizen/soldiers than any other state. How about Big Ed giving the soldiers a tax break that have and continue to provide him the freedom to tax and spend it's citizens in to a welfare state??
My choices are to continue to do without or leave this state of corruption. – Anonymous, York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For our family and many others I know we have been hit harder and harder each year in York County with ever increasing and outrageous school taxes, and the districts keep raising them. We live in Northeastern School District, and we have the highest district tax of all, and they are raising it again. It's abominable. Our population is on the increase, and more and more homes go up, but they keep saying they have to raise it. Why, for 3 brand new schools, new sports fields. Where will it end? The districts have to be held in check. We can't pay it all.
Our family and many others have had to cut expenses, cancel trips, cut down on driving and get second jobs to make ends meet, just because of gas prices and food costs. We just refinanced before the big housing crunch and we are not sure if we can keep things going because of the tax situation. I may soon be looking for another job to help cover the house payment. Our mortgage keeps going up. I'm all for education, but lets get serious folks, these district autocrats need to have some control. The state can't keep bleeding all the money out of its citizens to pay for education. Where's the great relief from gambling Mr. Rendell? Yeah that worked well.
This district needs reigned in, big time!!! - Mike Mc., Manchester, York County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The rich corporate fat cats don't care how many people lose their home's, that’s just more for them to buy up.
My brother and his wife and 2 daughters are losing their home due to high taxes and the price of gas. My brother has worked 27 years at New Cumberland army depot and drives 50 miles each way to work. The cost to heat my brother's home is $80.00 a day. How can retired citizens possibly pay taxes and heat??? How would you like to make that decision, taxes or heat?
I'm not retired but not far from it. Also a lot of retired citizens that can possibly work somewhere are working as long as they can. There was a 85 year old lady working at Wal-Mart that I talked to. How would you like your 85 year old mother having to work to make ends meet, that's crazy? This is happening all across the state; it's really bad in western PA where my Aunt lives
.
What has happened, it seems like I woke up one day and the world went crazy. I know we can't change the world and I also know these things must come to pass but it's hard to watch the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and now with the price of food how will these people eat? I fear it's going to get a lot worse if something isn't done.
WE CAN'T AFFORD ANYMORE TAXES!!!!! Wake up out there and GET A GRIP! - Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm in the same place as the 71 year old woman. I was 2 years back in taxes. My husband had a terminal illness and passed in Oct. I took out a loan to pay taxes but now I have another bill to pay. I'm now back in taxes again from last year.
Still paying a mortgage with NO savings. I have no other income and am desperate. When you call anyone they tell you to sell your house. These are hard times and I should not be told I have to sell my home. This is all I have left.
Please somebody help. I've gone back to using my coal stove because I can't afford oil. Please help. - Carole Glanski, Pottstown, Montgomery County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After teaching in NJ for 40 years, and waiting every year for the local taxpayers to approve the school district's annual budget, I am amazed that Pennsylvanians have tolerated the current system so long. School directors suffer from a "pharaoh complex", spending OPM on the outward trappings of the schools, yet battling teachers every contract year in the name of fiscal responsibility. Taxpayers need to have control over school budgets, and caps are fine — but not if every appeal is rubber-stamped "approved". There needs to be a moratorium, or at least severe restrictions on school spending until a better plan can be developed. Unfortunately, the plan will probably be to increase taxation on those in the suburbs and rural areas and a transfer of money to urban schools where it will disappear in a dysfunctional bureaucracy.
The soaring burden of school taxes combined with the unconscionable increases in heating oil and gasoline and the coming 30+% increases in electricity will destroy many –elderly, retired, unemployed, and underemployed alike. – Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I'm writing my story regarding the outrageous School Property Taxes levied against PA Home Owners. I live in Bucks County PA. I strongly support the School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA). This would be a strong incentive for PA home Owners to stay in PA.
First and foremost, I don't consider school property taxes as taxes; I consider the taxes as a second mortgage. We moved into our single family home last year. The day before we moved on June 30, I lost my job, can't obtain another one, and don't have unemployment benefits anymore. We're in a severe financial bind. So school property taxes are very important to us
It came to our attention after we moved in, school property taxes in the Morrisville Borough in the last three years have increased over $400 a year. This has raised school property taxes from about $2,100 in 2005 to $3,382 in 2007 with no end in sight. The borough raised school property taxes to build a new school, but the borough never did due to the opposition of the Morrisville residents. We voted in a new school board last year, and the school board promised to only raise school property taxes 4.4% for this school calendar year. However our concern is what's going to happen the next year?
This November the PA Home Owners need to exercise "GRIP". GRIP is the acronym from Get Rid of The Incumbents. If no progress is made, we need to "clean house", and elect state reps who don't submit to special interests, and pass a viable resolution. Instead we have a Governor and a State Legislature with gridlock and unwillingness to resolve this issue. Even though many of these politicians "ran" on a platform to resolve this issue last election. We need "GRIP" to address our Gripe. However we must keep the state reps who support legislation to resolve this issue in office, so we don't "throw the baby out with the bath water".
As a PA Home Owner, I've written to Governor Rendell and the Local PA State Reps Hon. Rep Galloway, Hon. Melio, and Hon. Chris King regarding this issue. So what's their solution? Gridlock and "Smoke Screen" tactics. If you're going to criticize a recommendation, then respond with a viable solution! I consider our governor and state legislature to be "out of touch" with their constituents.
I know sooner or later, my wife and I will have to leave PA and probably move to DE, a state with the lowest taxes nationally. It’s not that far away. My second mortgage, er, my school property taxes, are going to force us to move in a few years if nothing is done. Please vote out of office the politicians who are blocking the viable resolutions like the School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA). - Edward Grassinger, Morrisville, Bucks County
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I have a wife and three children and as it stands right now about 15 percent of my before tax income goes to pay our school property tax bill. I can't even save money for my own kids’ future education. – Anonymous
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We are both 70, living on a fixed income. Until this year we felt comfortable. We've watched our property taxes (both County and School taxes) double in less than ten years. It hasn't been uncommon to see increases by York County of 25 and 33%. School taxes have on occasion been 25%. We've been on fixed income 8 of the 10 years.
To make matters worse, we had been depending on our nest egg to provide 5% interest income to carry cost of living increases. Lately it's impossible to find CD rates above 3.5%. The difference between 3.5% and 5% is almost a 40% decrease. (1% decrease using 5% is a 20% drop). Point is we have lost that cushion.
Everyday we are "nickled and dimed" at the grocery store, gas pump, and taxes. We've gone from using oil (1000 gal oil tank, used to buy 700 gals, no more) to a pellet insert to save fuel costs. We literally live in front of the pellet stove in our living room. But, this isn't unusual or unique; a lot of people are a lot worse off. I personally know a few. I used to burn scrap wood in the yard. Now I make sure to give it to a needy neighbor.
All I want to ask is, when the hell does government ever conserve or cut taxes. Never!
We have paid off the mortgage on 3 homes in our life time. Because of property taxes we have never owned one of these houses without an encumbrance (property taxes). So we could be evicted by government any time (think about it all the time). We buy a car, pay the taxes and every year a registration fee. On and on and on. Never stops. We are lucky to "own" the clothes on our backs. - Richard Radecke, York County