16 Comments
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Rebina  Boerner's avatar

Not good for me! I'm 82. I'll be dead. I was hoping maybe it would be gone. Maybe I could have money for a vacation before I die. Not nice worry everyday if I'll have the tav money.

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Valorie Erickson's avatar

I agree with abolishing property taxes but, honestly not within 5 yrs thats ridiculous. Whos kicking the can here in PA in order to feed the swamp and steal from property owners?

Someones not doing their job.

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Russ Diamond's avatar

Constitutional amendments take time.

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Wayne's avatar

How about abolishing the mandate for govt to educate children?? The govt should not be in any business providing services to consumers. An open market creates competition for those consumers Dollars providing a far better product while being most efficient and accountable. This is the broken part. The immoral force of govt enforcing mandates against one's pursuit of happiness should also make it illegal. But maybe that is just another slogan for the license plates?? Also another tax against our liberty.

Tax victim,

Berwick, PA

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Tricia Mezzacappa's avatar

Never had kids in school. Paid off my house some years ago. But nonetheless have been taxed to death and forced from this state after 25 years of home ownership. The job market, at least in northampton county, is a joke, and has been a joke the entire 25 years I did live there. My suggestion. Have the state sell some of its millions and millions of acres it owns. That can at least generate cash, with the future funds being generated by an economy that is sorely lacking in so many counties mid state. Bring i the big businesses that employ thousands. Then , a combination of 7.5 % sales tax, add sales tax to clothing and untaxed services. Add 1 % to state income tax. Allow municipal agencies to tax up to 2% . It may not fill the gap, but it's a start

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Chris Coyle's avatar

Russ -

Thanks for the thorough and thoughtful explanation. But, if I'm understanding you correctly, you want to first set an irrevocable abolition deadline five years out, then hope the General Assembly can come up with a replacement in time.

What happens if 2030 rolls around and the General Assembly hasn't agreed on a replacement plan? That's a fair question, and it's not farfetched possibility, given the regular inability of the G.A. to agree on annual budgets and other issues that aren't nearly as complex as eliminating property taxes.

I'm also curious to know what states don't have local property taxes, and what they do instead.

Chris Coyle

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Russ Diamond's avatar

That is a very fair question. What happens? Well, I'd prefer to think that it won't happen because I am prepared to lead the way on solving what is essentially a simple math problem. Deadlines have a funny way of getting people to the table with a serious attitude. Deadlines work.

I don't worry about what other states do. We ain't called the Keystone State for nothin'!

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Chris Coyle's avatar

What would you favor to replace property taxes?

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Russ Diamond's avatar

You're putting the cart before the horse! Stay tuned...

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Travis Clark's avatar

So you have no idea? Just trust you and the general assembly that hasn’t been able to come up with a solution for years! Give us a plan. You are putting the cart before the horse! Why would we vote for something we have no idea how it would affect us in the future. The cure could be worse than the disease!

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Russ Diamond's avatar

Of course I have an idea. But this is a MAJOR adjustment for PA and I shouldn't be the only one deciding. You really want me to just shove something down your throat? Read my latest to learn more... https://russdiamond.substack.com/p/pennsylvanias-moonshot

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Travis Clark's avatar

Of course you shouldn’t be the only one deciding, and no I don’t want something shoved down our throats. However I feel like we should know where the funding is going to come from before we make this MAJOR overhaul you are talking about. How do we know the alternative will not be more cumbersome for taxpayers?

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