Tax/Budget

GRCCI supports proposals that will reduce cost of Pennsylvania's antiquated and burdensome tax laws by implementing across-the-board reforms and reductions in business taxes in order to stimulate economic development.

News

Mar 10, 2010 Bankruptcy approved for Westfall in Pike County (The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)) It was evident to the judge," Mr. Buchanan said. The township is located in a predominantly rural eastern corner of Pike County. The tax hike also required court approval since the township exceeded state millage limits.    more...  
Mar 10, 2010 Pension spike spurs senior initiative (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) When seniors get a tax bill that's $500-$1,000 more, they're going to be in for a shock. Ed Rendell agree soaring pension bills need attention now. Rendell's first calls for action several years ago went almost entirely unheeded. Last year, House Republican leaders lobbied unsuccessfully to...    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 School budget proposal may not include tax hike (York Daily Record) Sharon Miller said that it's possible staffing cuts might be needed as student enrollment at the district's buildings decrease.    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 Higher fees to inspect Sharon rental units discussed (The Herald (Sharon, Pa.)) Connelly asked how the rate compares to that in other communities. Lavorini said it's "high and low" depending on what you compare it to.    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 Lake-Lehman board defends approving higher taxes (The Citizens' Voice) The budget had been shortchanged for four or five years, board member Walter Glogowski said.    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 McMahon, other mayors seek new funding sources (Reading Eagle) ...fi re services they receive. McMahon said the mayors suggested one possible way is to have the state order a reassessment of tax-exempt properties and make a portion of the taxexempt agencies' new assessment taxable, which would fund police and fi re services. He said a way must be found to...    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 Ramada receives reduction (The Times Leader) The property was reduced to $6.04 million at mediation. Schwager has said that reduced value was largely based on Hershey Co.'s past assessment court challenge.    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 No tax balance for Lake Township (The Times Leader) She was instructed to bring tax collection records from 2006 through 2009. Lake-Lehman School Board members recently publicly discussed a 2008 audit that indicated Kocher was late turning over taxes.    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 School budget proposal may not to include tax hike (York Daily Record) Sharon Miller said that it's possible staffing cuts might be needed as student enrollment at the district's buildings decrease.    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 An economic boom from homes? (The Patriot-News) ... Eisenberg said his study model assumes strong correlation between the new homes' value and the degree homes offset local costs. For example, a new home valued at $300,000 still contributes more, but the spread between benefit and cost is less than that of a new home valued at $406,000, which...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Municipal leaders ask state for more revenue sources (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Philadelphia now has an extra 2 percent sales tax and Allegheny has an extra 1 percent tax. Mr.    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Millions eligible for parts of $1.3 billion from IRS (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Consumers who paid for long-distance phone service were also eligible for refunds of federal excise taxes -- about $30 for individuals or $60 per couple. The excise taxes were billed from March 2003 through July 2006. Even long-distance customers with no reportable income were eligible,...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Green weekend (The Citizens' Voice) ...for green products. With a $1,500 tax credit rebate for purchasing energy-efficient windows, property owners can get back about 30 percent of the purchase price. "The tax credit makes sense to consumers," he said. "The tax credit helps make these products affordable." Tony DellDonna of Tony...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Services, population vary municipal rates (Lebanon Daily News) Instead, it, like every other municipality in the northern reaches of the county, relies on the Pennsylvania State Police in Jonestown for their services. A mill is $1 generated for every $1,000 of assessed value. The rates vary among municipalities. It was the largest tax hike since 1994, when...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Specter hasn't switched his support for flat tax (The Morning Call) Toomey co-sponsored flat-tax legislation when he was a Lehigh Valley congressman. Specter's Democratic primary challenger, Rep. But he added that a candidate's position on a flat tax isn't emotional enough to incite voters. Specter's proposal would flatly tax everyone's income at 20 percent....    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Hazleton Area budget deficit increases $2M (Standard-Speaker) Local revenue accounts for about $2.1 million of the estimated $5,421,559 special education budget. It would give Hazleton Area the ninth-largest increase in basic education funds in Pennsylvania. Credits can be increased if the business agrees to provide the same amount for two consecutive years.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Perfect pension storm swirls (The Citizens' Voice) Districts will go from contributing less than 5 percent of total employee salary costs this year to almost 30 percent in three years. During the last 25 years, 20 percent of funding has come from school employers and 15 percent from employees. Instead, those districts are applying for exemptions...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Outdated valuations anger Camden County homeowners (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Tax assessor Thomas J. Colavecchio said he had been directed not to speak to The Inquirer. Lawnside is one of Camden County's smallest communities. A revaluation could raise taxes for those homeowners. Some borough officials may want to see it delayed for that reason, Montgomery said. Brown's...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Works for Me campaign gets the message out (Reading Eagle) ...not employed with jobs. John J. Miller, vice president of AHEDD, a nonprofi t organization with an office in Wyomissing that helps people with disabilities fi nd employment, said that in the last year, Pennsylvania launched an ongoing campaign, Works for Me, which directs individuals with...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Sestak pays a visit to Lehigh County Democrats (The Morning Call) Ed Rendell's experience in the 2002 gubernatorial primary. At this point in the race, Rendell was 27 points behind now-U.S. Sen.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 School tax increases likely won't be severe (The Times Leader) But by law they had to either already promise not to exceed a state-set limit on tax increases or produce a preliminary budget. At Northwest, the preliminary budget includes a tax hike close to 13 percent, to 9.936 mills, costing our hypothetical average property owner $163. The Northwest...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Perfect pension storm swirls (The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)) Districts will go from contributing less than 5 percent of total employee salary costs this year to almost 30 percent in three years. During the last 25 years, 20 percent of funding has come from school employers and 15 percent from employees. However, the average employee retiring after working...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Revenue must increase or taxes go up, Rendell tells area business leaders (The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)) Rendell cast his proposal -- which taxes shale gas and lifts 69 exemptions in sales-tax law -- as fairness issues. Rendell didn't consider other options. Mr. Rendell said most other states already tax storage services.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Brian O'Neill column: A tinkerer's tale (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) When political jujitsu is practiced on Grant Street, the bruises are felt in the neighborhoods. A year ago, Mr. Dowd suggested that the renewal be automatic. That made sense. A fixed income is just that -- it isn't likely to soar.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Judge offers to mediate Braddock cases (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Onorato, UPMC would pay about $5 million to tear down the building. Hall told Judge Strassburger that UPMC never planned to tear down the building until "[Mr. Instead, he is standing in the way of UPMC and the residents of Braddock who want an amicable solution," said Mr.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 The Philadelphia Inquirer Karen Heller column: Karen Heller (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Then you put a trash tax on top. Poor people are more likely to be obese. The proposed $300 trash fee would be included with property taxes.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 The Philadelphia Inquirer Al Heavens column: On the House (The Philadelphia Inquirer) ...seeking." "The real estate market needs every possible tool to absorb the housing inventory, so the FHA changes are a real negative," Diamond said. Veteran Mayfair real estate broker Christopher J. Artur agreed that few borrowers with credit scores under 580 were having much success getting...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 EDITORIAL (The Philadelphia Inquirer) More taxes are the last thing struggling Philadelphians need or can afford. In his previous two budgets, Nutter ended the tiny cuts in the wage and business taxes. But it sounds more like he is running out of things to tax. Nutter doesn't want to raise the wage tax, already one of the highest...    more...  
Mar 6, 2010 Group urges 1% sales tax to aid towns (The Times Leader) County commissioners would need to consider and then approve adopting the tax before it would start. The county sales tax could generate roughly $8 million for the county. He pointed out, though, the university not only donates money annually, but also pays $30,000 annually to the downtown...    more...  
Mar 6, 2010 ELECTION 2010 (Reading Eagle) ...economy, Santoni said. But he hopes the money will go toward property tax relief when the economy improves. The money generated by slot parlors continues to go toward property tax relief, and the amount should continue to increase as five more casinos, including two in Philadelphia, open,...    more...  
Mar 6, 2010 Corrections (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Mar. 6, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- A Business story Sunday mischaracterized a statement by Harvard University law professor Robert Sitkoff.    more...  
Mar 2, 2010 Is the Rivers Casino finally on a roll? (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Centaur hasn't even applied for a slots license yet. Some senators said they often get questions about slots-funded property-tax cuts. The gaming board is seeking a $37 million budget for fiscal 2010-11, up from nearly $34 million this fiscal year. Collecting, counting and overseeing revenue...    more...  
Mar 2, 2010 Mayor's budget plan would tap trash and soft drinks for revenue, sources say (Philadelphia Daily News) We've got to accept that." Blackwell said she didn't want to see any more reductions of city services. And she said she hoped that some services could be added to balance out the new revenues. "No cutting any services. Who wants to go through that battle again?    more...  
Mar 2, 2010 City plans greater tax scrutiny on those it hires, promotes (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) The McMurray-based collection agency, which collects taxes for Allegheny County and other governments, will try to collect nearly $100 million in delinquent city, school and county taxes.    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Pittsburgh plans to ensure employees' property taxes are paid (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) We don't want to prohibit people that might be in an extenuating circumstance. The McMurray-based collection agency, which has collected taxes for Allegheny County for years, will try to rake in nearly $100 million in delinquent city, school and county taxes.    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Gaming Board (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) The money to repay that loan will come from an administrative fee of about 2 percent imposed on the casinos.    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Mounting debt surrounds suspended senior judge (The Citizens' Voice) Rehkamp agreed in the initial July 2005 divorce settlement not to sell the land for 10 years.    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Nutter preparing a 'challenging' budget (Philadelphia Daily News) Citizens responded with outrage in late 2008 when Nutter announced a plan to close 11 libraries and shutter some fire equipment to help close a budget gap. Nutter spoke last week about preserving services that citizens value. Council bristled and also took umbrage with Nutter's plan to balance...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Tax credits sought for 50,000 Allegheny homeowners (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) The state Supreme Court ruled the county's assessment system was unfair because it caused some to pay inflated taxes. They're being charged for interest penalty fees on top of (that). And others need the deduction to meet basic maintenance or meet their families' necessities.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Public gives school-budget options an F (The Morning Call) ...cuts will increase class sizes in Bangor next year, the most unpopular of all the outcomes, according to the poll. The negative response is probably the result of years of educators' emphasis on the importance of small class sizes, Borick said. Respondent Lynn Geary of Pittsburgh, who put her...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Big strides made by free Erie tax program (Erie Times-News) ...in refunds to Erie County taxpayers from Feb. 1 to Feb. 22 through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across the area. The 22 locations will remain open until April 15, the deadline to file federal and state income taxes. In 2009, $2.5 million was returned through Erie Free...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Making better choices on spending your tax refund (The Morning Call) By Gregory Karp Feb. 28, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune News Service delivered by Newstex) -- Everybody seems to have some advice about how to spend your tax refund. Some energy upgrades qualify for up to $1,500 in tax credits. You pay a fee to get a cash advance on your refund, which takes only about...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Movies help reel cash into Western Pennsylvania (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) In 2008, the movie industry generated $60 million in Western Pennsylvania. I see everybody working." Pennsylvania's film tax credit helps lure productions to the state, said Keezer. Michigan has a 42 percent tax credit, and Louisiana has 30 percent.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Home rehab a tough sell in recession (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) According to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity published by Harvard University, the home remodeling business peaked at $146.2 billion dollars in the second quarter of 2007. I was at his place this week." Remodeling may be on the upswing. Nicolas P. Retsinas, director of Harvard's...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Sierra opposes drilling at park (The Times Leader) Commissioners sought proposals from entities interested in operating the park at no expense to the county, but there were no takers. The club may consider taking legal action if necessary, Muraca said, though he hopes it doesn't come to that.    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 BRIEF (The Times Leader) ...postage, printing and labor to prepare the tax bills that were scrapped. County minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said he and Commissioner Thomas Cooney were in the dark about the tax break cancellation, and both agreed on Monday that the homestead would be restored. County Solicitor...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Budget squeezes Leechburg Area School District (The Valley News-Dispatch) By comparison, a mill of property tax generates $75,000. Other districts will get increases of 6 percent to 7 percent, Lukacs said.    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Underdog governor candidate Rohrer sees hope in 'undecided' (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) He sponsored legislation to reduce or eliminate school property taxes.    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Home and Garden Show celebrates potential (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Morinville is founder of Energy Independent Solutions of Robinson, a firm that installs modules to capture sunlight for photovoltaic energy.    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Attorney resumes property tax battle against Allegheny County (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) The state Supreme Court ruled the county's assessment system was unfair because it caused some to pay inflated taxes. They're being charged for interest penalty fees on top of (that). And others need the deduction to meet basic maintenance or meet their families' necessities.    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Jan. existing-home sales up over 2009 (The Philadelphia Inquirer) ...to improve, with sales rising 6 percent from the same month in 2009 and with median prices 5.1 percent higher, according to Prudential Fox and Roach's HomExpert Market Report. Regional sales volume in January, however, was 29 percent lower than in December: 2,325 homes vs. 3,280. "It's a...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Erie's casino: Three years and a countdown toward table games (Erie Times-News) Steavens grabbed a seat at a $3 virtual blackjack machine at Presque Isle Downs and Casino. Steavens was lucky to get one of the five spots Tuesday morning. He has waited as long as two hours on weekends. But soon Steavens, 33, and other gamblers will be able to take their seats not at a slot...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Firm hired to collect delinquent city taxes (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Those who can't may be put on payment plans that can run as low as $50 a month for low-income residents.    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Homeowners sue for property tax refund (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Driscoll. But Pittsburgh Public Schools solicitor Ira Weiss dismissed Mr. Weiss added, there is no legal ground for a finding of liability assessed in monetary value against the county. In 2005, Mr. Weiss said. County Solicitor Mike Wojcik agreed. "We will look at [the suit] and we will...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 The York Dispatch, Pa., Larry A. Hicks column (The York Dispatch) They've developed their own opposition Web site. The constant hummmmm of the cooling units is something I've had to get used to. I could be sitting next to an animal-rendering plant or an airport. In the end, I suspect the warehouse operation is going to be approved in Manchester Township.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Phila. region's existing-home sales up 6% (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Prudential Fox and Roach HomExpert. Regional sales numbers in January were 26 percent lower than in December -- 2,325 versus 3,280. "It's a further payback for the first-time buyers' tax credit that expired Nov. 30," said economist Patrick Newport at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Mass. Two...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Pennsauken works to discourage 'white flight' (The Philadelphia Inquirer) It's easier to move into a community and see yourself." In 1980, white residents accounted for 91 percent of Pennsauken's population. By 2000, 60 percent of the town's 36,000 residents were white. That's the sign of moving toward segregation." At Pennsauken High School, white students now make...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Rendell seeks business support for business tax hikes (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) ...state pension obligations in two years. Combined, the two will produce a budget deficit of $5.6 billion, he said. A package of new business taxes, the elimination of some business tax exemptions and a broadening of the state sales tax is needed to forestall a crisis, Rendell said. Legislative...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 EDITORIAL (The Philadelphia Inquirer) ...housing needed. Even the council kowtowed to Christie, voting 5 to 2 to adopt the governor's order restricting its role. Those who oppose affordable-housing regulations have been up in arms since the state in 2008 closed a loophole that had allowed many municipalities to pay poorer towns to...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Rendell stumps for tax plan (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) That's because, in Allegheny County, there's a 1 percent sales tax collection on top of the state tax, half of which is diverted to the Allegheny Regional Asset District. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park. "I, for one, want them to get the full value of any increase ... We've anted up God knows how much...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Lame duck Rendell stumps for Pennsylvania tax increase (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Ed Rendell decry a business tax structure that lets 71 percent of companies in Pennsylvania skip out on the tax. The next year, a sharp increase in state pension obligations will push the deficit to $5.6 billion, Rendell said. Discretionary spending accounts for just $5.5 billion of the state's...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Auditor general says term 'homestead exclusion' likely confuses Pennsylvanians (The Patriot-News) ...by Wagner's report qualify for the tax breaks. Only a homeowner's primary residence does; that means vacation homes, rental properties, hunting lodges and the like are ineligible. But Wagner said spot checks conducted by his office lead him to believe that at least 10 percent to 15 percent of...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Mohegan Sun could offer table games by mid-May; hearing on proposal held Wednesday (The Citizens' Voice) Soper said. About 350 future dealers have been selected and are ready to go into training at a school at Mohegan Sun. McGarvey said. "I can't say for sure when table games will start. Pashinski said his constituents would see their property taxes reduced $200 to $400 with a potential maximum...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Casino's table games proposal receives support (The Citizens' Voice) About 350 future dealers have been selected and are ready to go into training at a school at Mohegan Sun. The application and hearing are requirements to obtain a table games license. State Rep. When all are operational, Pashinski said his constituents would see their property taxes reduced $200...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 'There was a mistake made here' (The Times Leader) She also incorrectly maintained that a higher tax increase would be necessary to fund the break. Thank you to the taxpayers for any patience they can afford us.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Gateway seeks state exception on tax increase, just in case (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) ...of Education. Gateway is requesting approval that would permit the district to adopt a budget that increases the millage above the district's inflationary index of 3.4 percent, or .66 mills. The preliminary budget proposed a 1.68 mill real estate tax increase. The school board unanimously...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Mt. Lebanon residents divided on school renovation (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Kaitlynn Riely Feb. 25, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Mt.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Budget outlook better (The Valley Independent) Brad Ferko explained at a school board meeting Tuesday. Last week, the board posting a $22,012,075 tentative budget.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Audit shows many don't receive Pa. tax break (The Philadelphia Inquirer) City residents receive automatic wage-tax reductions in their paychecks. He also recommended the designation of one agency, preferably the Department of Revenue, to oversee the property-tax reduction program.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 EDITORIAL (York Daily Record) Since the last assessment in 2006, property sales prices have dropped significantly. I should appeal." The whole property tax situation is messy and inexact. Or both -- perhaps combined with greatly reduced property taxes (which, for all their faults, do provide a stable and predictable revenue...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Audtiro general (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Taxpayers get reduced school property taxes, not a direct check. The average property tax rebate statewide was $189 per household last year. The rebate is allowed only on primary residences. Some taxpayers told Wagner's auditors threw away the application because it referred to "homestead" and...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Wagner (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) The average property tax rebate statewide was $189. It's a reduction in one's school property tax bill, not a check provided to taxpayers. The forms are mailed to homeonwers by county assessment officers.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Audit (The Philadelphia Inquirer) City residents receive automatic wage-tax reductions on their pay checks. He also recommended the designation of one agency, preferably the Department of Revenue, to oversee the property-tax reduction program.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Exception would allow Moon Area higher tax increase (Beaver County Times) Moon Area's index for the 2010-11 school year allows for a 0.61 mill increase. But the board nearly voted down applying for the exception.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 BRIEF: AG (The Morning Call) ...amount of money going to property tax relief from slot machine revenues is less than what has been reported by the state. State law requires that 34 percent of all gross terminal revenues – that's all the money left in the more than 25,000 statewide slot machines after all winners are paid...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 County officials: Homestead tax break remains in effect (The Citizens' Voice) The new property values and $10,000 exclusion became official in 2009. More than 86,000 properties are approved to get the homestead exemption in the county. A homestead tax break can only be claimed on a primary residence. The county assessor's office approves homestead applications. So...    more...