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For Immediate
Release
3/29/11
Listen
Brubaker Legislation Would Give
Taxpayers More Control Over Property Tax Hikes
HARRISBURG – Under current law, school boards cannot raise property taxes to a rate above
the inflation index provided in Act 1 of 2006 without approval from local voters
at the ballot box. However, school boards may apply to the Department of
Education for an exception to this requirement to raise property taxes without
voter approval. Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36) introduced legislation today that
would give taxpayers a stronger voice in education funding debates and greater
control over excessive property tax increases.
Senate Bill 911 would remove all exceptions that school boards use to raise
property taxes beyond the rate allowed by current law without a referendum.
Brubaker's bill would ensure that all property tax increases in excess of the
Act 1 index would need to be approved by voters, giving taxpayers a greater say
in education funding decisions.
"These exemptions allowed by current law essentially remove the taxpayer's
voice from the dialogue on burdensome property tax hikes," Brubaker said. "My
legislation seeks to create a realignment of education spending and foster a
true partnership between school districts and taxpayers."
Senate Bill 911 would require school boards to communicate the need for
increased spending directly to taxpayers, giving citizens more input into tax
decisions. Brubaker said that giving taxpayers a voice in the process will lead
to greater involvement by the public in deciding how tax dollars are spent.
"If there is a demonstrated need for a tax increase in order to improve
student achievement or expand educational opportunities for students, school
boards will still have an opportunity to make their case to the voters for
property tax increases," Brubaker said. "However, if additional funds are needed
due to poor management of public dollars or extravagant new construction
projects that do not benefit students, taxpayers will have the opportunity to
prevent these unnecessary tax increases."
Budget Secretary Charles Zogby and Acting Secretary of Education Ronald
Tomalis expressed support for this proposal during the Senate Appropriations
Committee's budget hearings this month, and Governor Corbett touted the measure
during his budget address.
Brubaker added that Senate Bill 911 would work in conjunction with the
comprehensive bipartisan package of legislation introduced last week to suspend
or eliminate expensive mandates on school districts. The mandate relief package
would give school boards greater flexibility in how education dollars are
spent.
"Ensuring greater accountability to taxpayers is just one piece of the larger
puzzle to reform the way we fund public education," said Brubaker, who
introduced four of the bills in the mandate relief package. "As we work to
foster greater cooperation between school boards and taxpayers, it is equally
important to give school boards the tools they need to spend taxpayer dollars
more efficiently."
CONTACT:
Mark Ryan
(717) 787-4420
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