John Perzel is about to become a very popular guy in Delaware County. At least among senior citizens.
He just might wind up being AARP’s Man of the Year.
And why is that? Simple. Perzel says he has a plan to eliminate their school property taxes.
You should remember Perzel. He’s the former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The Republican from Northeast Philly has, as they say in the halls of the state Capitol, clout. When he says something, people listen.
Perzel said something this week that no doubt will be greeted with hosannas by senior citizens all across the state. But especially so here in Delaware County.
That’s because for years elderly homeowners have complained to their elected representatives about the increasing burden of their property taxes, the basic building block of most local school budgets.
It’s pretty simple really. As state contributions to local education budgets declined, school boards were forced to find new avenues to raise the needed revenue. Most of the time they turned to property taxes.
That has taken a huge toll on senior citizens and others on fixed incomes. And that has been a particularly brutal burden here in Delaware County.
Any number of politicians have tried to address the issue. We even elected Ed Rendell governor because he said he had a solution to the problem. And he got the Legislature to approve casino gambling in the state for the revenue.
Enter Perzel. He’s looking at all that loot the casinos are raking in. And he knows what he wants to do with it.
His proposal is a fairly simple one. If you’re a homeowner over 65 and have an income under $40,000, you would pay no property taxes.
Nothing. Nada. Zippo.
Perzel estimates that would wipe out tax bills for 18,546 in Delaware County. And another 92,000 seniors in Philadelphia. Statewide, the number swells to 600,000.
Perzel estimates his plan will deliver $1 billion in tax relief.
It will also deliver a lot of smiles on the faces of senior citizens.
Of course, this is not the first time a proposal has been floated in Pennsylvania to ease property taxes.
But this is one of the most interesting. One local Democrat, Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, has already indicated he’s ready to back the Republican’s proposal.
Keep an eye on this one.
If successful, it could do something that has been promised by those in Harrisburg for years.
But has yet to be fully delivered.
He just might wind up being AARP’s Man of the Year.
And why is that? Simple. Perzel says he has a plan to eliminate their school property taxes.
You should remember Perzel. He’s the former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The Republican from Northeast Philly has, as they say in the halls of the state Capitol, clout. When he says something, people listen.
Perzel said something this week that no doubt will be greeted with hosannas by senior citizens all across the state. But especially so here in Delaware County.
That’s because for years elderly homeowners have complained to their elected representatives about the increasing burden of their property taxes, the basic building block of most local school budgets.
It’s pretty simple really. As state contributions to local education budgets declined, school boards were forced to find new avenues to raise the needed revenue. Most of the time they turned to property taxes.
That has taken a huge toll on senior citizens and others on fixed incomes. And that has been a particularly brutal burden here in Delaware County.
Any number of politicians have tried to address the issue. We even elected Ed Rendell governor because he said he had a solution to the problem. And he got the Legislature to approve casino gambling in the state for the revenue.
Enter Perzel. He’s looking at all that loot the casinos are raking in. And he knows what he wants to do with it.
His proposal is a fairly simple one. If you’re a homeowner over 65 and have an income under $40,000, you would pay no property taxes.
Nothing. Nada. Zippo.
Perzel estimates that would wipe out tax bills for 18,546 in Delaware County. And another 92,000 seniors in Philadelphia. Statewide, the number swells to 600,000.
Perzel estimates his plan will deliver $1 billion in tax relief.
It will also deliver a lot of smiles on the faces of senior citizens.
Of course, this is not the first time a proposal has been floated in Pennsylvania to ease property taxes.
But this is one of the most interesting. One local Democrat, Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-161, has already indicated he’s ready to back the Republican’s proposal.
Keep an eye on this one.
If successful, it could do something that has been promised by those in Harrisburg for years.
But has yet to be fully delivered.
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