27 November 2009
Dear Friends,
I hope that you had a very happy Thanksgiving!
This Update begins with a disclaimer that I will use for all future discussions of today’s topic.
In the five years since the PTCC was established I have always carefully avoided any partisan bias and always attempt to call the situation as I see it regardless of the politics involved. I firmly believe that the property tax crisis has been caused by the inaction of Republicans and Democrats alike and that it will require committed lawmakers from both parties to permanently solve the problem. Please keep this in mind as you read today’s Update.
The PTCC today is announcing its endorsement of State Representative Sam Rohrer for Governor of Pennsylvania.
For many years Representative Rohrer has worked tirelessly for the total elimination of school property taxes and a restructuring of Pennsylvania’s broken education finance system. Along the way he has been thwarted by shameful partisan politics, callous special interests, and the appalling cowardice of many self-serving lawmakers who do not have the political will to support such sweeping legislation.
On Tuesday, November 17, Representative Rohrer announced his candidacy for Governor of Pennsylvania. During his announcement address Sam emphasized that school property tax elimination will be one of the five main planks of his campaign platform and a priority of his administration.
From the standpoint of school property tax elimination we could not have received better news. As Governor, Sam Rohrer will be in a position to advance the education finance reform agenda in a manner that to this point has been impossible. His election as Governor would hugely increase the likelihood of school property tax elimination in a way that we previously could have only imagined.
Of the three Republicans and five Democrats who have announced their candidacy for Governor, Representative Rohrer has been the ONLY one to make this commitment. Five candidates have not mentioned the issue in any manner whatsoever, while the remaining two have used the tired, meaningless, nonspecific terms “property tax reform” and “cut property taxes” in their campaign.
Through his ongoing efforts, Representative Rohrer has proven that he truly understands the property tax crisis for what it is: A moral issue that must be resolved to free Pennsylvania homeowners from oppressive property taxes and not a cynical political ploy to be used to win elections.
Because of the PTCC’s singular focus on education finance reform, the only factors I will consider for this election are an unequivocal public commitment to eliminate school property taxes and a definitive plan to do so - that will be my litmus test for any candidate for Governor in 2010. Representative Rohrer has passed that test.
I believe that the time has come to forget labels like Democrat and Republican, red and blue, conservative and liberal, left and right. Self-centered politicians of all stripes have demonstrated their unwillingness to be responsive to their constituents’ desires, preferring instead to take the easy road and do what is politically expedient. It is time to end this charade by electing those people who are attuned to and sympathetic to our needs, regardless of party, if we are to regain control of the government that is rightfully ours. I hope that you feel as I do on this issue.
Representative Rohrer’s candidacy has not been sanctioned by those political party power brokers who choose our candidates for us and who are concerned only about amassing power and winning and losing. For Sam to succeed it will take a bottom-up grassroots groundswell of support to accomplish the task of electing a Governor whose primary concern is the will of the people who elect him to office. With our efforts – the power of the people - we can demonstrate to the uncaring political bosses that we will no longer be content with candidates who are forced upon us by those who have little interest in our well-being. We will, instead, show them that we will elect those who will truly work for the people and not for the party establishment.
During the years of effort I have spent advocating for education funding reform and school property tax elimination I have come to know Representative Rohrer very well and I respect him greatly. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with him on this vital issue and sincerely believe that he is an honorable and principled man of tremendous integrity who will do whatever he promises for the citizens of Pennsylvania.
I am asking you today to please strongly consider supporting Representative Rohrer’s candidacy, regardless of your political preference, to help achieve our goal of school property tax elimination. This is a non-partisan request based entirely on advancing the cause we support and is not based in any manner on political philosophy or affiliation. During all of the years that we have been working toward this goal we have never had a better opportunity to reach our objective. Your help is urgently needed if we are to succeed.
You can read more about Representative Rohrer’s goals on his campaign website at www.samrohrer.org.
In future PTCC Updates I’ll have specific suggestions on what you can do to support Representative Rohrer and the battle for school property tax elimination.
You can offer comments and discuss today’s update here on the PTCC blog or on the new PTCC Facebook page – simply search for “PTCC” when you’re logged on to Facebook and become a friend. We’d like to hear your thoughts.
Please forward this post to everyone you know to help spread the word and advance the cause.
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One more note for our friends in the Northeast: Representative Rohrer will be holding a town hall meeting on Thursday, December 10, at 6:30 PM at the Clarks Summit Volunteer Fire Department, 321 Bedford Street, Clarks Summit. Please be there to meet Sam, hear about his “Principles to Renew Pennsylvania”, and show your support! There will be more of these meetings in the future throughout the state and the PTCC will keep you up-to-date on locations and times.
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That’s it for today. My best wishes and my gratitude go out to all PTCC supporters and subscribers. Thank you very much for all of your help.
David Baldinger
PTCC Administrator
www.ptcc.us
Update - The SPTEA is introduced!
07 November 2009
Dear Friends,
It’s been quite a while since our last PTCC Update since not much had been happening. But suddenly, when it rains, it pours!
The SPTEA is introduced!
On October 29 Representative Sam Rohrer, along with thirty-one bipartisan co-sponsors, formally introduced the School Property Tax Elimination Act in the House of Representatives as House Bill (HB) 1275.
HB 1275 has been referred to the House Finance Committee for consideration. Its fate is now in the hands of the House Democrats who, as the majority party, control the flow of legislation. They have an abominable record for supporting school property tax elimination measures so we'll have to do whatever is possible to get the bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. I’ll have details on how you can help in a future PTCC Update.
The list of HB 1275 co-sponsors is available on the PTCC website here. Please consider sending an e-mail to thank those Representatives who co-sponsored. You might also want to send a letter or e-mail or make a phone call to your Representative if he or she is not on the list to strongly urge him or her to add their name as a co-sponsor of the SPTEA. It’s never too late for them to do this. And, please, don’t accept any their useless excuses – there are none!
You can find your Representative’s contact information through the “Find Your Legislators” link on the PTCC homepage.
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Act 1 Index
What’s your potential school property tax increase for 2010? The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released the 2010-2011 Act 1 index that shows the maximum allowable tax increase before exception or referendum.
For the 2010-2011 school year the average increase in the Act 1 index for all Pennsylvania school districts is 3.8%; the largest increase is 4.7% with the smallest at 2.9%. This increase is interesting because during the one year period September 2008 to September 2009 the Consumer Price Index (CPI), an inflation measure, was a deflationary -1.3% (U.S. Department of Labor, October 2009).
More information about the index and a complete listing for all Pennsylvania school districts are available on the PTCC website here. The index is available as a downloadable PDF (Acrobat) file.
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Gambling expansion to include table games
Speaking of Act 1, the terrific property tax “relief” we’ve been receiving from the legalized gaming in Pennsylvania supported by Act 1 may be even less with the expansion to table games that was included as part of the 2009-2010 state budget package.
At this point the increased revenues from the table games legislation does not include any distribution for property tax relief – all taxes collected from this new law will be used for general fund expenditures.
But to make matters worse, it is predicted that table games will attract some slots players, reducing the revenue from slot machines that is dedicated to property tax relief. In addition, it is also predicted that some casinos will reduce the number of slot machines available to clear floor space for table games, further reducing the revenue from slots. If you think the current property tax relief from gambling is paltry now, wait until the table games start siphoning money from the relief fund!
This is just one more reason why the bogus Act 1 property tax relief from gambling needs to be repealed and property tax elimination enacted through the School Property Tax Elimination Act.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Autumn 2009 SPTEA Promo Pack
Mike Fogarty of the PCTA’s Coatesville group has compiled a downloadable package of promotional goodies to help you spread the word about the SPTEA. The package includes posters, letters, and information about the looming 2012 public employees’ pension spike that will strongly affect your property taxes.
The Promo Pack is available on the PTCC website here.
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New PCTA Member Groups!
Since the last PTCC Update the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations (PCTA) has added two dynamic new groups to our growing alliance for a total of thirty-four dedicated taxpayer advocacy organizations!
In August, PA Tax Talk from Montgomery County joined the PCTA’s effort for the enactment of the School Property Tax Elimination Act. PA Tax Talk is eager to welcome new Southeast PA members; contact Ernie Rosato at support@pataxtalk.com to help the cause.
In September, the PCTA added the Concerned Citizens of Bethlehem Area School District from Northampton County to the roster. The CC-BASD is a very active organization with regularly scheduled meetings and would certainly welcome your participation as a member. Contact Patty Felix at cclvpa@gmail.com to join their efforts.
The PCTA heartily welcomes PA Tax Talk and CC-BASD to the PCTA! We’re pleased to have you on board to keep the momentum building.
If you’re fed up with unfair taxation and unresponsive politicians and would like to form your own taxpayer advocacy group, contact any PCTA member group for advice and assistance. The PCTA members are listed on the PTCC website here. It’s easy to do and we’ll give you all the help you need.
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PCTA-SPTEA regional taxpayer meetings a success!
The PCTA-sponsored October meetings in Wilkes-Barre and Duncannon to explain and promote the School Property Tax Elimination Act were a huge success, with hundreds of attendees eager to lean the details of the SPTEA. The PCTA gained many new supporters who are very enthusiastic about working for the enactment of the SPTEA and we are pleased to welcome them to the cause.
We are grateful for the hard work of arranging and staging these meetings that was done by PCTA member groups: Citizens Against Property Taxes (Luzerne County), Scranton and Lackawanna County Taxpayers’ and Citizens’ Association, Wyoming County Concerned Taxpayers, The Patriot’s Voice (Columbia County), and Citizens for the Elimination of Property Taxes (Perry County). Our thanks, too, to Sue Henry of WILK Radio for being a true believer in our efforts and for hosting the Northeast meeting.
The PCTA will be sponsoring more of these meetings in the future, so please keep watch for a PTCC Update announcing a meeting in your area.
The PTCC and PCTA are proud to have all of you as Update subscribers and supporters of the SPTEA. We can’t get this job done without you and we are pleased to have you by our side in our fight for true education finance reform. Thank you!
That’s all for now. Please write if you have questions or concerns.
David Baldinger
PTCC Administrator
pataxpayers@gmail.com
Dear Friends,
It’s been quite a while since our last PTCC Update since not much had been happening. But suddenly, when it rains, it pours!
The SPTEA is introduced!
On October 29 Representative Sam Rohrer, along with thirty-one bipartisan co-sponsors, formally introduced the School Property Tax Elimination Act in the House of Representatives as House Bill (HB) 1275.
HB 1275 has been referred to the House Finance Committee for consideration. Its fate is now in the hands of the House Democrats who, as the majority party, control the flow of legislation. They have an abominable record for supporting school property tax elimination measures so we'll have to do whatever is possible to get the bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. I’ll have details on how you can help in a future PTCC Update.
The list of HB 1275 co-sponsors is available on the PTCC website here. Please consider sending an e-mail to thank those Representatives who co-sponsored. You might also want to send a letter or e-mail or make a phone call to your Representative if he or she is not on the list to strongly urge him or her to add their name as a co-sponsor of the SPTEA. It’s never too late for them to do this. And, please, don’t accept any their useless excuses – there are none!
You can find your Representative’s contact information through the “Find Your Legislators” link on the PTCC homepage.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Act 1 Index
What’s your potential school property tax increase for 2010? The Pennsylvania Department of Education has released the 2010-2011 Act 1 index that shows the maximum allowable tax increase before exception or referendum.
For the 2010-2011 school year the average increase in the Act 1 index for all Pennsylvania school districts is 3.8%; the largest increase is 4.7% with the smallest at 2.9%. This increase is interesting because during the one year period September 2008 to September 2009 the Consumer Price Index (CPI), an inflation measure, was a deflationary -1.3% (U.S. Department of Labor, October 2009).
More information about the index and a complete listing for all Pennsylvania school districts are available on the PTCC website here. The index is available as a downloadable PDF (Acrobat) file.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gambling expansion to include table games
Speaking of Act 1, the terrific property tax “relief” we’ve been receiving from the legalized gaming in Pennsylvania supported by Act 1 may be even less with the expansion to table games that was included as part of the 2009-2010 state budget package.
At this point the increased revenues from the table games legislation does not include any distribution for property tax relief – all taxes collected from this new law will be used for general fund expenditures.
But to make matters worse, it is predicted that table games will attract some slots players, reducing the revenue from slot machines that is dedicated to property tax relief. In addition, it is also predicted that some casinos will reduce the number of slot machines available to clear floor space for table games, further reducing the revenue from slots. If you think the current property tax relief from gambling is paltry now, wait until the table games start siphoning money from the relief fund!
This is just one more reason why the bogus Act 1 property tax relief from gambling needs to be repealed and property tax elimination enacted through the School Property Tax Elimination Act.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Autumn 2009 SPTEA Promo Pack
Mike Fogarty of the PCTA’s Coatesville group has compiled a downloadable package of promotional goodies to help you spread the word about the SPTEA. The package includes posters, letters, and information about the looming 2012 public employees’ pension spike that will strongly affect your property taxes.
The Promo Pack is available on the PTCC website here.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
New PCTA Member Groups!
Since the last PTCC Update the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations (PCTA) has added two dynamic new groups to our growing alliance for a total of thirty-four dedicated taxpayer advocacy organizations!
In August, PA Tax Talk from Montgomery County joined the PCTA’s effort for the enactment of the School Property Tax Elimination Act. PA Tax Talk is eager to welcome new Southeast PA members; contact Ernie Rosato at support@pataxtalk.com to help the cause.
In September, the PCTA added the Concerned Citizens of Bethlehem Area School District from Northampton County to the roster. The CC-BASD is a very active organization with regularly scheduled meetings and would certainly welcome your participation as a member. Contact Patty Felix at cclvpa@gmail.com to join their efforts.
The PCTA heartily welcomes PA Tax Talk and CC-BASD to the PCTA! We’re pleased to have you on board to keep the momentum building.
If you’re fed up with unfair taxation and unresponsive politicians and would like to form your own taxpayer advocacy group, contact any PCTA member group for advice and assistance. The PCTA members are listed on the PTCC website here. It’s easy to do and we’ll give you all the help you need.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PCTA-SPTEA regional taxpayer meetings a success!
The PCTA-sponsored October meetings in Wilkes-Barre and Duncannon to explain and promote the School Property Tax Elimination Act were a huge success, with hundreds of attendees eager to lean the details of the SPTEA. The PCTA gained many new supporters who are very enthusiastic about working for the enactment of the SPTEA and we are pleased to welcome them to the cause.
We are grateful for the hard work of arranging and staging these meetings that was done by PCTA member groups: Citizens Against Property Taxes (Luzerne County), Scranton and Lackawanna County Taxpayers’ and Citizens’ Association, Wyoming County Concerned Taxpayers, The Patriot’s Voice (Columbia County), and Citizens for the Elimination of Property Taxes (Perry County). Our thanks, too, to Sue Henry of WILK Radio for being a true believer in our efforts and for hosting the Northeast meeting.
The PCTA will be sponsoring more of these meetings in the future, so please keep watch for a PTCC Update announcing a meeting in your area.
The PTCC and PCTA are proud to have all of you as Update subscribers and supporters of the SPTEA. We can’t get this job done without you and we are pleased to have you by our side in our fight for true education finance reform. Thank you!
That’s all for now. Please write if you have questions or concerns.
David Baldinger
PTCC Administrator
pataxpayers@gmail.com
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