Vote 'No' To PA Constitutional Tax Amendment On Nov. 7, TESD Says

WAYNE, PA – As the Nov. 7 election grows nearer, many are looking at potential candidates to cast their votes for. But the Tredyffrin/Easttown 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 state.

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 TESD says it's impact could hit hard in ways unseen and unexplained.

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, it 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.

"This proposed amendment has not been well publicized or explained by the State and there needs to be much more dialogue about why the amendment is being considered," TESD School Board President Doug Carlson said.

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.

"A shift in the funding of public education is too important an issue to be quietly added to the general election ballot," Carlson said. "Pennsylvania voters need more facts about the intentions of this proposal so they can understand the impact it could have not only on taxpayers, but on the future of our public schools."

The district says approving the ballot measure "could be a pathway to funding schools through higher sales and income taxes which are less reliable and unproven revenue sources."

"While it’s important for legislators and residents across Pennsylvania to continue to engage in serious discussions about school funding challenges," TESD Superintendent Richard Gusick said, "this incomplete and under-explained idea does not advance the conversation in the right direction for schools."

Officials with the district say the bill would strip control from the local districts and place in in Harrisburg's hands, alleging funds allocated to districts by the state could be affected by partisan bickering in the state house.

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