Property Tax Rally!

02 May 2008

Property Tax Rally!

Dear Friends,

PLEASE forward this site to as many folks as possible!

The time is NOW to vigorously show the Harrisburg politicians how we feel about school property tax elimination. More on that in a moment.

First, on May 1 the state issued its chart for gambling-funded property tax relief for each school district; it is available on the PTCC website here.

For many of Pennsylvania homeowners the amount of reduction in their property taxes through this measure will be less than this year’s school property tax increase. How did you fare with this “relief”?

Now for the real purpose of this post.

On Monday, June 2, 2008 from 11:00 AM to Noon in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg there will be a school property tax elimination rally in support of House Bill 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, the legislation that is endorsed by the PTCC and the 26 PCTA taxpayer groups statewide. The timing of this rally is meant to coincide with the budget debate that will be in progress then, ensuring that all members of the General Assembly will be in Harrisburg to receive our message.

While the agenda has not yet been finalized, it is expected that a large number of current lawmakers and candidates will be in attendance along with community, business, and school leaders and taxpayer advocates. Following the rally the PTCC and FreedomWorks will be issuing an “Honor Roll” listing all lawmakers, candidates, and community leaders who show their support for school property tax elimination by attending this rally.

The purpose of the rally is to do our best to send a very strong message to the legislature that we are tired of their procrastination and expect action to eliminate school property taxes NOW. This is a major event and a large turnout of supporters will help to focus media attention on this issue and increase public awareness and support.

Your help is needed to spread the word about the rally and, perhaps, to organize folks in your area and arrange transportation to Harrisburg. This is a one-time event that is VERY IMPORTANT, so if you're willing to help PLEASE try to find as many folks as possible to attend - use carpools, limo buses, full-sized buses, any way possible to get people to the rally.

Further details will be posted on the PTCC website during the next few days.

If you live in Berks County, the PTCC will be organizing a bus trip to the Capitol for Berks area residents. The approximate cost is $20 per person. If you’re interested in joining this trip for the rally, please send an e-mail by May 11 to taxrally@mail.com with your name, address, and telephone number. If enough folks respond by May 11 to fill a charter bus (or buses!), I’ll send you a return e-mail with the details of the trip and method of payment. I’m sorry that the PTCC can’t pay for this trip but since we don’t accept donations we have no way to fund it.

You are encouraged to add your comments about this letter by clicking on the "Comments" link below this post.

That’s all for now. Please do all that you can to publicize this event and please attend if at all possible!

Thanks to all of you for your continuing support.

David Baldinger
PTCC Administrator