Below is an email from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) to its members about the SB 76 Finance Committee vote. The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Dont take away our ability to tax people out of their homes! Greedy liars. If youre interested in voicing your opinion to the PSBA, heres an email address: [email protected] Senate Finance Committee moves to cut education funding PSBA is disappointed that this week that the Senate Finance Committee reported out Senate Bill 76 (Sen. Argall, R-Schuylkill), which calls for the elimination of property taxes and replacing them with higher income and sales taxes. The bill was reported out with a narrow 6-5 vote and will go to the Senate floor for further consideration. Should the bill pass the Senate, its future is uncertain in the House. PSBA applauds Senators Greenleaf, Hutchinson, Smith, Teplitz and Vance for their votes in opposition. Tomorrow you will receive our call to action on this important issue. PSBA sent a letter of opposition to the Finance Committee, stating while the association supports the diversification of public education funding sources and a greater role from the state in funding education, Senate Bill 76 does not create adequate or appropriate funding that provides for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the students of the Commonwealth. PSBA notes that the legislation eliminates property taxes and shifts a significant burden of funding public schools onto various other taxing mechanisms, including sales, and personal and earned income taxes. While this plan seemingly provides an alternative to an overreliance on local school property taxes, the shifting of the property tax burden merely serves to continue the current disparities in education funding and significantly underfund schools, compounding an already tenuous situation. The diverse economy of our state requires a mix of taxes to provide school districts with the greatest flexibility in providing their local financial contribution to public education. This includes a variety of local taxes and the development of available funding bases that are suitable to each school district’s unique economic capabilities and conditions.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:46:45 +0000
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