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Senator Rhoades Announces Special Session on Property TaxesHARRISBURG- Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) announced today the convening of a Special Session to discuss one of the most pressing and difficult issues facing Pennsylvanians, property taxes. "The property tax is regressive and unfair," Rhoades noted. "The Special Session provides an opportunity to put partisanship aside and engage in a public dialogue and review of ideas that can lead to real solutions." One of the proposals that will be discussed in the Special Session is Governor Rendell's plan, known as Act 72, which would cut property taxes by using revenues from the recent expansion of gambling. Still, Pennsylvanians will not see property tax relief from that plan until at least 2008. "The Governor's plan to mandate Act 72 for all school districts is a beginning, but it may not go far enough to deliver the kind of tax relief that Pennsylvanians are demanding," said Rhoades. "The General Assembly will need to look to new ideas and we need to find fresh, bold approaches to true reform." In addition to Act 72, the Special Session will focus on other legislative proposals, including the Rhoades proposal, in the coming weeks. In order to shift the burden of funding public education away from the property tax, Rhoades' proposal would increase the personal income tax in order to shift state revenues to public education which would then require all school districts to dramatically reduce local property taxes- dollar for dollar. The Special Session will run concurrent to the regular session of the General Assembly. A bipartisan committee will be appointed to hold hearings and review and recommend legislation to the General Assembly. "Reforming our system of funding public schools is no longer just an option – it is essential," Rhoades said. "I believe we owe it to the people of Pennsylvania to move from a regressive and unpopular property tax system and to find a stable and responsible system of funding for our public schools."
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