I got an interesting email recently.
It was from an Upper Darby resident.
The woman wanted to talk about taxes. She had just read our story on the Upper Darby School budget, which was approved by the school board Thursday night.
It includes a tax hike, this despite the efforts of state Sen. Tom McGarrigle, R-26 of Springfield, and Rep. Jamie Santora, R-163 of Upper Darby, to deliver an additional $3.5 million for the school district.
The additional funding allowed the school board to slice the tax hike from 3.4 percent to 2.5 percent. Both state officials expressed disappointment that the school district was still raising taxes.
Then the woman delivered a number I wasn't quite prepared for, while lamenting still another property tax hike.
She indicated she will now be paying more than $12,000 in property taxes for a home she believes might bring her $250,000, "if it sells.""We have homes that are not selling due to the high taxes," the woman said. "Either because it intimidates the potential buyer or because the banks don't issue a mortgage because the assessed value is too high.
"I've seen my home depreciate in value over just 5-8 years ... all due to the high property tax."
She asked me to look into local property taxes and see how it is "impacting people and neighborhoods."
It is a topic we have addressed repeatedly. After crime, property taxes are the No. 1 issue in many neighborhoods.
"We are stagnant here in U.D.," the woman said. "People won't come in. People can't leave. All because of a tax."
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