Bill Would Give Voters More Control
Over Property Tax Increases
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."
http://senaterepublicannews.com/news/2011/0311/brubaker-032911.htm
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."
http://senaterepublicannews.com/news/2011/0311/brubaker-032911.htm
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