The School Property Tax Elimination Act
The real faces of the school property tax issue
Here, in their own words, are the real-life stories of Pennsylvania families of all ages and areas of the state who are finding it increasingly difficult to withstand the oppressive economic hardship imposed by relentlessly increasing school property taxes.
These true accounts were submitted by PTCC and PCTA subscribers who volunteered to tell their stories. Their hopes are twofold: that Pennsylvania lawmakers will read their words and finally understand the hardship imposed by this inequitable, archaic tax and that they will act quickly to eliminate this unnecessary burden that is diminishing the quality of life for Pennsylvania homeowners.
Click on the photo to read their stories.
How to ELIMINATE school property
taxes!
The PTCC and PCTA
support House Bill 1275, The School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA),
Pennsylvania House of Representatives legislation that will eliminate
all school property and nuisance taxes across the Commonwealth and will
fund all Pennsylvania schools from a single state source.
HB 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, introduces a modernized school funding plan based on 21st century economic realities.
- The SPTEA will ABOLISH the school property tax on all homestead/farmsteads
as well as eliminate all local school nuisance taxes, local school EIT,
and other ACT 511 taxes imposed by school districts.
- The SPTEA utilizes our current sales tax mechanism to fund schools,
restoring the original intent of the tax. Unlike other so-called "relief"
schemes, the School Property Tax Elimination Act does not increase the
rate but maintains the current rate of six percent.
- The sales tax provides a predictable and stable funding source that
is tied to economic growth. This is in clear contrast to the school property
tax which is not based on economic growth and is subject to much variation.
- Current school spending regularly exceeds tax revenue and the School Property Tax Elimination Act addresses this problem as well as funding equity for more than one hundred distressed Pennsylvania school districts.
Read all of the details of HB 1275, The School Property Tax Elimination Act, here.
See how much you can save on your total taxes through the enactment of HB 1275, The School Property tax Elimination Act. Our exclusive SPTEA Excel calculator is here.
PTCC Quick Facts
WHAT is the PTCC?
The PTCC is the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, a free subscription-based nonpartisan statewide E-mail list and website that serves as a taxpayer advocacy group for those who have no local group available to them. This list represents a virtual community of thousands of taxpayers from throughout Pennsylvania who are concerned with school property tax and education finance reform.
WHY does the PTCC exist?
School property and nuisance taxes are out of control and are draining the lifeblood of Pennsylvania residents. Pennsylvania school boards cannot continue to annually raise taxes by greater than the rate of inflation before homeowners can no longer afford to pay. This situation is a train wreck waiting to happen, and if something is not done quickly to resolve the problem the entire system will crash in a very short time.
WHAT are the PTCC goals?
The PTCC and the statewide umbrella group, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations (PCTA), are dedicated, through legislative reform, to eliminating school property taxes for all Pennsylvanians and to the equitable funding of all Pennsylvania schools from a broad-based, statewide funding source. Such a source would equalize disparities between wealthy and poorer school districts, ensuring a quality education for all Pennsylvania schoolchildren. The PTCC is a proponent for the immediate repeal of Act 1, the fraudulent school property tax “relief” bill that was signed into law in June 2006. The PTCC is a supporter of House Bill 1275, The School Property Tax Elimination Act, a Pennsylvania House bill that will eliminate all school property and nuisance taxes and provide equitable funding for all Pennsylvania schools.
WHAT can I do to help?
Please take time to explore this site to learn more about the issues, the PTCC’s objectives, and pending tax reform legislation. Join the PTCC e-mail list to receive updates, spread the word to your friends and relatives about this movement and urge them to join this group, and help with occasional action items to keep the momentum alive. In a grassroots movement such as this, EVERY person counts! Please join in this vital mission to achieve true education finance reform for all Pennsylvania taxpayers and schoolchildren.
WHY should I join the PTCC e-mail updates list?
If you're happy receiving your information from this web page, that's great! We hope that you'll check back often for updates. But by joining the list you'll receive updates and action items more quickly, and we'll be able to keep a more accurate count of supporters when demanding legislative action. We'd really like to have you as a subscriber. And, of course, your e-mail address will always remain strictly confidential.