WHAT TAXPAYERS ARE SAYING
"I totally agree with your plan, and I hope you are
successful."
John G.
"Please continue to promote your plan. It makes sense. I
like the idea of pay as you go rather than the large sum we
pay when taxes are due. Let's eliminate school property
taxes altogether."
Bob B.
"Taxes . . . should be shared and shouldered by everyone
in this state. . . . I want the school property tax
abolished entirely, not just 'fixed.' . . . Please, do what
you must to get the job done."
Ernie F.
"Please continue your efforts with [the] Commonwealth
Caucus. This is the best initiative I've seen to free
citizens from confiscatory taxation."
Craig D.,
Sinking Spring, PA
"My wife and I totally support the Commonwealth Caucus
Plan as the fairest and best thought-out plan for switching
the funding of school districts from property tax to another
source of revenue. We are opposed to any increase in the
state income tax as a method of solving the current problem!
We are opposed to an increase in the state income tax for
any reason. We urge you to support the Commonwealth Caucus
Plan."
Steven S.
"Only with this plan can we get property taxes where
they should be and not increase income tax as well."
Dean W., Erie, PA
"It's about time we have a practical, thoughtful school
tax reform package. . . . I read with interest the
Commonwealth Caucus Plan and this is the first school tax
reform plan I have read to date that even begins to make
sense. . . . I like the Commonwealth Caucus Plan because it
totally eliminates the real estate tax for schools. If this
tax was eliminated, with the savings to homeowners and
renters (through the reduced rent that lower real estate
taxes would mean), there would be more spending money for
all classes of taxpayers. . . . I hope tax reform finally
goes where it should go; total elimination of the real
estate tax for public education."
Marianne W.
"I would like to express my support for the Commonwealth
Caucus Plan to eliminate school property taxes. Property
taxes in the Commonwealth have become outrageous. Proper
funding of our schools is everyone's responsibility.
However, the burden for funding is placed primarily on the
responsible homeowners of our Commonwealth."
Kerry
M., Wernersville, PA
"This seems like a fairer way to solve the problem [of
property tax reform]."
Peter & Judy C., Reading, PA
"Your tax plan is the best I've seen. . . . It's the
most equitable."
Steve R., Northampton, PA
"The approach is so simple. You've managed to cut out so
much red tape, simplifying the whole educational funding
process, it's almost unbelievable. . . . [t]his new approach
puts more spending control in the hands of the individual
tax payer, and not the school board supervisors. . . . I
think your new approach is outstanding."
Bob A.
"You have provided the opportunity for this state to
bring about real tax reform. It is fair, it is sound, and
everyone will help to support the school system including
the young people of this state who are currently enrolled in
the system."
Mary R. Bover, PA
"Your tax plan appears to be the only common sense plan
presented to the citizens of Pennsylvania. . . . Continue to
push your plan. Our family supports it."
Erma G.,
Robesonia, PA
"I just reviewed the details of the proposed 'Plan for
Pennsylvania's Future' regarding property tax elimination in
Pennsylvania. I commend you and the team that devised this
plan. The elimination of a tax which makes people lose their
homes when they retire or lose their job is the best idea I
have ever heard come from our state government. Please do
not give up on this plan. The runaway increases in property
taxes must be stopped. . . . Please do not allow this
opportunity for real property tax reform to slip away. . . .
This is an opportunity to truly resolve the property tax
issue once and for all. This plan is equally applied to
everyone and is therefore much fairer than the current
system."
Jack R.
"This plan is long overdue. Especially for older people.
Sam has my whole hearted support."
Joe C., Womelsdorf, PA
"I want to thank you for your efforts in the elimination
of property taxes and doing it this year. You, sir, are a
breath of fresh air."
Hagan S.
"Plan is acceptable to my wife and I. We are retired and
it is a struggle to pay the high property tax. . . . Get it
voted on!"
John B., Fleetwood, PA
"I want to let you know that I along with 90% of the
people who have heard you explain your plan to eliminate
school taxes support you whole-heartedly. Please do not stop
campaigning this plan. . . . Keep working hard on this, you
have a lot of support."
Joe C.
"This is the easiest and the most fair way of raising
revenue for our schools. We have been paying school taxes in
Berks County for over 27 years. When you really look at it,
we really never really own our homes. If we don't pay the
taxes,
they will sell it out from under us. We are
very close to retirement and it would be nice to know we
will not have to worry about the school taxes. I wish you
well with your bill. I just wished more people knew all the
facts. If you sit down and think about it, we will be paying
less because everybody will be forced to pay."
Nancy
W., Hamburg, PA
"[T]his Plan . . . would give ALL Pennsylvania Property
Owners tax relief."
Doris S.
"[T]he most equitable way to address the problem
[concerning the school property tax] is through the
Commonwealth Caucus' plan. The elimination of the school
property tax would be a welcome revision to the funding for
the Pennsylvania schools."
Charles M.
"This is an excellent plan."
Rick L., Pittsburgh, PA
"Allow me to offer congratulations and encouragement on
your Commonwealth Caucus efforts. Truly the only common
sense, innovative proposal coming out of a taxpayer
representative in my memory."
Ron B., Alburtis, PA
"Congratulations, your proposal for revising the
property taxes is the most sensible proposal that we have
seen presented for the relief of the taxpayer. We are
totally in agreement with this plan and are looking forward
to its implementation. We are anxious for this tax reform so
that we can make our plans as to whether we remain in this
state or relocate."
Thomas & Carolyn V., Monroeville,
PA
"I just read the plan and it looks good. It is
simplicity in action . . . ."
Rick W., Flying Hills,
PA
"How refreshing it is that a plan has been introduced
that is not a retread of a tax shift formula. This model
will make Pennsylvania a far more attractive place to live
than our neighboring states, which may finally stop our
population slide and restore us as the Keystone State."
Dave S., Washington, PA
"I heard you on a local talk radio station, and wanted
you to know my wife and I are 110% behind your Tax Reform
Plan."
Dean W., Erie, PA
"Replacing one of the most destructive . . . taxes in
the state . . . will make collecting school taxes more
fair."
Ronald S., Kenhorst, PA
"I just got finished with the slide show on your
website. It sounds great to eliminate the property taxes. .
. . This property tax issue is very important to me."
Stan L., Shillington, PA
"Thanks for coming up with something creative that I
think might work."
Marianne W., Sewickley, PA
"I agree with your approach. If the state really needs
money and it is proven it is necessary, . . . it should be
consumer based, and on the sales tax, rather than the income
tax."
Martin R., Wyomissing, PA
"Kudos! Finally someone understands the importance of
combining property tax relief, an economic stimulus, and a
mechanism for funding all public schools adequately!"
Gretchen S., Harrisburg, PA
"With the lowest real estate tax burden in the Northeast
and the second lowest real estate tax burden, I don't see
how Pennsylvania could do anything but prosper beyond our
best hopes."
Brooke B., Harrisburg, PA
"This proposed plan [is] very simple to comprehend, and
I was surprised that no one came up with this idea before.
The [old] rule was to raise taxes to balance a budget. Now
we have a proposed plan that reduces taxes and still
balances the budget. This plan would revolutionize this
Commonwealth in ways that would boggle the minds of skeptics
in this great state. . . . This plan would give back the
dignity and integrity to the senior citizen, the sick, the
unemployed and the financially strained residents that
worked so hard to have or maintain a home or business. . . .
This . . . is a paramount, innovative approach in solving
the funding of our schools, stimulating growth for business,
lowering the unemployment rate, and creat[ing] opportunities
for our young adults to stay in this great Commonwealth."
Lawrence W., Tobyhanna, PA