Debate on Elimination of all Property Taxes in Pennsylvania
Subject: Debate on Elimination of all Property Taxes in Pennsylvania Saturday, April 18, at 8 AM
Pennsylvanians are taxed at a level of approximately $2487 per year on a per capita basis, per the Tax Foundation, and rank 11th in the US in per capita taxation. This is up from 26th in 1995. About 29% of the total tax is property tax of which about 99.5% goes to the support of public education and local governments.
The April 18 meeting of Citizens’ Caucus will examine alternatives to the property tax in Pennsylvania. A modified Oxford debate will be based on the question: “Resolved: That the property tax be eliminated in Pennsylvania.” The debaters will be faced with defending or attacking the proposition that $12.4 billion, 29% of the total tax revenue of the state, no longer be collected from property owners and that this tax income is transferred as an increase in sales or income taxes or some completely new taxation method. All states rely on property tax as a primary source of revenue.
The participants are:
Affirmative: Russ Diamond
Russ, a member of the Steering Committee of Citizens’ Caucus, is the founder and former Chairman of PA Clean Sweep which raised 113 legislative challengers in the historic 2006 elections. It effected the rejection of a Supreme Court judge, the President Pro Tem, and Majority leader of the Senate.
Negative: Timothy M. Allwein
Tim, a native of Lebanon County, is Assistant Executive Director for Government and Member Relations, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
• Saturday, April 18, at 8 AM
• Hometown Family Restaurant, East Main Street (Londonderry Square on Route 422) Palmyra, PA.
• Family Style Breakfast
• $10.00 for Citizens’ Caucus members and $12.00 for non-members
• Call 717-964-1802 for reservations. Seating is limited.
Citizens’ Caucus is a non-sectarian, non-partisan citizens’ issue study group. General meetings, open to the public, are scheduled quarterly. Membership is open to all citizens who wish to participate in planning and organizing our public meetings. Annual membership dues are $10.00.
Very truly yours,
Herbert. H. Braden
Chairman