Saccone Encourages Senate to Enact Property Tax Reassessment Moratorium
HARRISBURG – After successfully restoring his Property Tax reassessment moratorium amendment early Sunday morning, Rep. Rick Saccone (R- Allegheny/Washington) encouraged the state Senate to quickly pass the Community and Economic Development Enhancement Act (Senate Bill 1546) with his moratorium amendment intact, to address the issue of property tax reform.
“Once again the state Senate has surgically removed a key provision of this legislation that would have finally provided property tax relief to beleaguered taxpayers,” said Saccone during the debate on the House floor to restore his amendment. “The Pennsylvania House is the legislative chamber closest and least isolated from the concerns of the people. No less than three times the people have spoken through us crying out for a moratorium on the onerous property tax reassessments that are plaguing many communities. Now is the time to give the people the relief they expect and deserve.”
Saccone’s amendment to Senate Bill 1546 would protect Pennsylvania property owners against extreme, unpredictable tax hikes by placing a temporary moratorium on court-ordered countywide reassessments. This moratorium would remain in effect until the General Assembly has enacted property tax reassessment reform legislation or until Dec. 31, 2013, whichever comes first.
“Senate Bill 1546 without the moratorium is just a half measure,” said Saccone. “Voting to send this legislation back to our colleagues in the other chamber will once again send a strong message that the members of the Pennsylvania House will take every step possible to deliver property tax relief.”
Saccone’s amendment to the bill is identical to his originally authored legislation, House Bill 2137, that was unanimously advanced by the Pennsylvania House earlier this spring for the second time in two years. This amendment passed the House overwhelmingly again Sunday morning. Saccone is also a strong supporter of the Property Tax Independence Act (House Bill 1776) that would completely eliminate school property taxes and replace them with more equitable streams of revenue.
“Property tax reform is the No. 1 priority the people of my legislative district demanded that I address,” said Saccone. “It’s not too late. I will keep fighting to deliver substantive and permanent property tax relief because there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.”
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State Representative Rick Saccone
39th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: Ty McCauslin
tmccausl@pahousegop.com
717.772.9979