PENNSYLVANIA TAXPAYERS CYBER COALITION

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The School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA)

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Latest News

NEW! November 7, 2009 Update. The SPTEA is introduced; the PCTA grows again. Click here.

NEW! What's your potential school property tax increase for 2010? The 2010 Act 1 index is here.

NEW! Autumn 2009 SPTEA Promo Pack. Goodies to help you promote the SPTEA. Click here.

August 19, 2009 Update. All's quiet; an important meeting. Click here.

March 27, 2009 Update. A deputy sheriff speaks out. Click here.




NEW! What's your 2009 property tax relief from gambling money? Check how much you'll receive here.

What needs to happen? A statement from Rep. Sam Rohrer. Click here.

June 2008 Rally Recap! Photos, video, media coverage. Click here.

* ACTION ITEM *
The Real Faces of the Issue. Click here.

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Features

Personal SPTEA Calculator
Excel calculator to see your tax savings under House Bill 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act. Now includes calculations for Philadelphia property tax reduction!

SPTEA Petitions
Sign an individual petition to demonstrate your approval of the SPTEA or distribute a multi-signature petition to really gather support! Print extra copies for your friends, family, and neighbors so they can help, too! Download the petitions as PDF files here.

SPTEA Promo Pack
A downloadable collection of materials and ideas that you can use to help spread the word and increase support for the School Property Tax Elimination Act.

Why school property taxes need to be eliminated!
Two excellent essays on the fallacy of property taxes for education funding.

Voice your opinion!
Visit the new PTCC Blog to add your thoughts and suggestions to recent PTCC updates.

Why the School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA)?

A printer-friendly version of this page in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format is available here. To ensure proper printing, please use Acrobat's print icon instead of your browser's "Print" command.

(Please note: The SPTEA was introduced during the 2007-2008 legislative session as HB 1275. Since all pending legislation expired with the end of the session on November 30, 2008, the SPTEA will be re-introduced in 2009, possibly with a new bill number. Details will be published on the PTCC website when available.)

Comprehensive School Finance Reform

- House Bill 1275, The School Property Tax Elimination Act (SPTEA) eliminates the need for school property taxes and all other local nuisance taxes generated for K-12 education, while funding public education through a broader sales tax.

- The SPTEA will stabilize Pennsylvania’s crumbling and obsolete K-12 school funding system by replacing an inadequate revenue source (school property and nuisance taxes) with a broad based, modernized and sufficient revenue system (sales and use tax).

- The SPTEA maximizes school equity by creating a dedicated Educational Operating Fund separate from the Commonwealth General Fund into which all sales tax revenues will be deposited and from which schools will be fairly and adequately funded. The SPTEA also establishes equity adjustments and provides for an Education Trust Reserve.

- The sound and predictable revenue stream generated by the SPTEA will allow schools to focus on education and student performance – not fundraising.


Fair and Flexible Taxpaying

- The streamlined and modernized sales tax system implemented through HB 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, will restore a critical element of choice and promote greater flexibility in taxpaying.

- Replacing a mandatory property tax with a broader sales tax allows Pennsylvanians, regardless of income level or home ownership status, to largely control what they actually pay out in taxes. In other words, those who have the ability to spend more through voluntary consumer purchases will foot the brunt of the bill for K-12 education.

- In addition, this legislation provides sales tax exemptions for such things as food, clothing, residential utilities, home heating fuels, doctor's bills and prescription drugs, and essential business-to-business services such as accounting, engineering, research, computer and legal services.


The 100% Elimination of School Property Taxes is a Win-Win Situation for all Pennsylvanians

- Homeowners will benefit from the restoration of true property ownership and unprecedented financial freedom without the economic oppression of rising school property taxes.

- Farmers will not have to sell family properties that have been handed down through generations.

- Senior citizens will no longer be forced to sell their homes or be evicted from their homes due to school property tax bills they can no longer afford to pay.

- More young couples and renters will benefit from the prospect of qualifying for home ownership because of no school tax escrow and, thus, lower monthly housing payments.


The Success of the School Property Tax Elimination Act is not Dependent on the Existence of Gambling Revenue

- The School Property Tax Elimination Act of 2007 is designed to implement any existing gambling revenue into its school funding formula. However, its success is not dependent slot machines like other so-called property tax reform proposals. If gaming revenue actually materializes, reductions in sales tax rates and distributions to poor school districts will occur faster.


Of all Property Tax Elimination Proposals HB 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, Can Be Implemented the Fastest

- Although there have been numerous property tax elimination proposals introduced over the past 20 years, the School Property Tax Elimination Act presents the most viable, far-reaching and expedient option the Legislature has to finally do something to help both individuals and businesses in an area where it is literally needed most: Their own backyards. Upon enactment, the SPTEA will immediately freeze school property taxes at current levels and will begin a significant reduction in school property tax bills beginning with the first tax bill following enactment.



A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about HB 1275, the School Property Tax Elimination Act, is available here.



NEW! Calculate your taxes under the School Property Tax Elimination Act. Click here.



Please subscribe to the PTCC e-mail newsletter to receive up-to-date information about the School Property Tax Elimination Act and suggestions for what you can do to help achieve its enactment. Click here.