Vote 'No' To Tax Amendment On Nov. 7: Radnor Twp. School District

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – As the Nov. 7 election grows nearer, many are looking at potential candidates for whom they will cast their votes. But the Radnor Township School District and other Pennsylvania districts are hoping residents take notice of a state ballot question that they say could harm school districts across the commonwealth.

House Bill 1285 that is up for public vote on Nov. 7 and it has to do with how districts in the state handle property taxes and ultimately how to fund their budgets.

While some residents may see the question and think it might be good to vote "yes" as it deals with potentially lower property taxes, the RTSD says it's impact could hit hard in ways unseen and unexplained.

>>>RELATED: WATCH: Radnor School Board Candidate Forum

"As worded, the amendment language on the ballot does not present the full scope of its impact," the district said. "Should it pass, a path would be paved for the PA General Assembly to pursue legislation that would eliminate school property taxes, which in turn would significantly reduce our ability to control how our schools operate."

The bill's aims to promote economic growth and completely eliminate the school district property tax once and for all.

The bill proposes supplanting property taxes with funds from personal income tax and the sales and use tax.

While the bill would possibly cut property taxes, another bill, Senate Bill 76, that has been introduced would broaden the scope of what's taxable on sales in the state and increase in the state's personal income tax.

You can see the entire bill online here.

Voters will have a chance to weigh in on the bill Nov. 7.

The vote proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution's Homestead Property Tax section.

The question is in full below:

"Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to permit the General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing local taxing authorities to exclude from taxation up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction, rather than limit the exclusion to one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead property, which is the existing law?"

The current rule allows districts to exempt 50 percent of the median assessed value of homestead properties. As stated above, the new proposal would allow a 100 percent exemption.

"Should RTSD be forced to rely solely on the Commonwealth to provide funding, budget impasses like one Pennsylvania is currently experiencing would mean no funds would be coming into the district, severely impacting the ability of district schools to operate effectively," the district said. "If the district is no longer able to collect school property taxes, the district would be stripped of local control, and RTSD, and the township as a whole, would suffer."

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