Opinion: Giving Voters a Greater Say on Property Taxes
With the new budget, exceptions school districts can use in raising property taxes are limited.
Editor's Note: The following was written by state Rep. Warren Kampf (R-157), who represents much of the Phoenixville Area.
Within hours of passing the final state budget in June, the legislature gave voters a stronger voice in determining the amount of property taxes they pay.
Before 2006, Pennsylvania was the only state in the nation that allowed school boards to raise property taxes without restriction. Act 1 of the 2006 Special Session changed that and promised greater taxpayer protection by requiring a voter referendum before school districts could raise taxes above a yearly "education inflation index."
But there was a catch. Act 1 also allowed school districts to bypass a referendum by applying for waivers to increase taxes above the index in special circumstances—circumstances that proved so vague that circumventing the referendum through exceptions became routine. In the state’s 500-plus school districts, voters were given the chance to vote on property tax increases in only 12 instances.
This is no longer the case. Along with the budget vote, the legislature agreed to limit the exceptions a school district can use when raising property taxes.
School districts can still seek waivers, but only for special education expenses, grandfathered debt, electoral debt or pension costs.
This new law strengthens taxpayers’ voices in their local communities and encourages school districts to budget more efficiently while still giving them the tools to deal with special circumstances that may arise. When special education, pensions, electoral or grandfathered debt drive up costs beyond the index, school districts can still receive waivers. Gone, however, are exceptions for “emergencies,” construction, health care, and other broad categories. This should result in more referenda or fewer tax increases above the index.
I also believe if we are going to limit a school board’s ability to raise property taxes, we must remove mandates that have been forcing their costs to skyrocket.
That’s why I have sponsored legislation to allow school districts to opt out of the prevailing wage requirements that artificially increase construction costs. If passed, this reform will help ensure that contractors on school construction projects are no longer paid wages above what they earn working on a similar job funded by the private sector. Studies estimate this could save as much as 33 percent on labor costs.
I am also working on legislation to further overhaul the public school pension system to reduce the overwhelming cost of retirement benefits borne by taxpayers across the state. By converting to a 401(k) type plan for new school district hires, we can ensure fair benefits for workers and fair treatment for taxpayers.
A Taxpayer
6:26 am on Thursday, July 21, 2011
Yes, there should be limits. Probably based on the cost of living - the same COLA that's used for Social Security. That would have been 0% for the last two years. Try working with that!. How about 50% discounts on property taxes for senior citizens on Social Security? Or perhaps no school taxes at all for those property owners over 70 years of age. Give those who gave all their lives a break!
Semper Fi
7:45 am on Thursday, July 21, 2011
As a veteran and resident of Kampf's district, I haven't gotten over his photo opp during his campaign in the sacred Medal of Honor Grove at the Freedoms Foundation. He and his 'friends' came to the grove and had arranged for the newspaper to come and interview him and printed a photo of them at an obelisk. The fact that he was playing politics there turned alot of us off. Glad there's a new group caring for the grove..the Friends of the Grove- they won't allow our heroes to be used by any candidate wanting to clean up the grove with a reporter and photo op. This was not Kampf's finest moment.
Bud Horenci
10:52 am on Thursday, July 21, 2011
Oh please. This is how our elected officials demonstrate their activity to their constituency and generate interest in worthy causes. Andy Dinniman doesn't do anything without a camera, followed by his grinning face plastered in every news medium that has room for it. And I don't see you complaining about that.
Mike Hays
12:45 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011
To Warren Kampf's office, courtesy of the Chester County Democratic Committee:
Ideological Not Budgetary
In the NY Times, Nicholas Kristof writes -"the United States supports schools in Afghanistan because we know that education is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to build a country. Alas, we've forgotten that lesson at home. All across America, school budgets are being cut, teachers laid off and education programs dismantled".
Kristof refers to education as the "escalator to opportunity" describing a house painter's son who graduated as a salutatorian and became a lawyer. He then declares that the "escalator is now breaking down".
With the failure of our republican legislature in Harrisburg to honor our state Constitution by adequately providing for education funding this year, our public schools and universities are certainly feeling the brunt. These ideologues believe our Commonwealth should not be in the business of providing for an education. Unfortunately, our property tax and tuition payers will also suffer as 'the beast is starved' to satisfy tea party supporters - who ironically enough are property tax payers themselves.
Deb Johnston
3:00 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011
perhaps one of our esteemed representatives will set in motion a change to the way money is raised to support our schools by basing the tax on earned income and not on property taxes.
perhaps one of our esteemed representatives will wake up and recognize that if we don't invest in our greatest resource this country will pay dearly. i am referring to the education of our children the future workforce of this country. the US is on the path of getting what it paid or didn't pay for. it takes money to make money. if you do not invest you cannot expect a return.
Semper Fi
4:29 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011
Bud - you are exactly right - elected officials should absolutely get involved in constituent's issues .....my point is Warren Kampf was NOT an elected official when he campaigned in the grove. He was running for office...not an elected official at that time. As a veteran, that is the objection. Dinniman wasn't running for office- he was/ is the state senator and he responded to constituents coming to him about the FF selling the Grove. Kampf was a candidate whose campaign deliberately called the reporter to come and interview him. That was my point...
Bud Horenci
5:40 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011
As a fellow veteran, I'm not offended in the least.
Semper Fi
7:27 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011
That's why we fought for our freedom. We have the freedom to disagree. Many of us believe we owe it to those names in the grove to honor them and never use them during a campaign. A few of us were there that day and it was disturbing. God Bless America!
Candy Allebach
7:31 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011
Let's not forget, Kampf also represents a small portion of Lower Providence in Montgomery County. Maybe he forgets us taxpayers who are hurting from the tax increase from the Methacton School District who made no cuts or layoffs and the high school has made AYP for the 3rd year in a row. Our tax money at work!!!