Sen. White Votes for Property Tax Relief Bill

Measure could have gone further in providing relief

Senator Don White, R-41st District, voted today for Special Session House Bill 39, a bipartisan property tax relief bill, but expressed disappointment that the legislation did not go far enough in providing relief and lower school property taxes for all Pennsylvanians.

"Although this bill provides assistance to Pennsylvania's neediest senior citizens, I had hoped the Conference Committee and the Governor could have worked together to hammer out legislation that would have granted true property tax relief to all property owners," Senator White said.

Special Session HB 39 includes three basic provisions:

It increases income eligibility requirements for the Property Tax Rent Rebate Program from 15,000 to $35,000 – adding an estimated 422,000 senior citizens to the program -- and increases the maximum payments under the program by a maximum of $200;
It implements the backend referendum – voter controls on future property tax increases – in every district across the state; and,
It offers homeowners a property tax reduction of at least 50 percent of the maximum homestead exclusion and gives communities a voice in local taxing decisions.

"While this is a small step in the right direction, considerably more needs to be accomplished," Senator White said. "We won't see true property tax relief until comprehensive action is taken on a statewide basis to provide relief and reduce spending. Until then, the job is not done."