Monday, November 06, 2017

The LuLac Edition #3640, November 6th, 2017


THE BALLOT QUESTION

WHY HOMEOWNERS SHOULD VOTE YES

Most people either ignore a ballot question in an election or just ignore it. This is one that shouldn’t be ignored. Here’s why you need to vote YES on this.
On November 7th, Pennsylvanians will be voting on a property tax exclusion referendum. Some people are not aware of this ballot question, and others are confused as to what the question is about. Here's why people like Charles Urban, The PA Liberty Alliance and LuLac strongly recommends a YES vote. Here is a short explanation and a little bit of history...
In 1998, the legislature enacted a “Homestead/Farmstead” exclusion that could have provided up to a 50% exclusion of the median assessed value of homestead/farmsteads (i.e. primary residences) within the taxing district. In other words, this could have allowed a property tax reduction of approximately half the median property tax bill in the school district, county, or municipality.
Since then, this exclusion was not used for anything other than the small amount of gambling “relief” that came years later. In order for the exclusion to have reached the full 50% of median assessed value, the legislature would have had to pass legislation enabling that to happen. They didn’t.
THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MINUTE. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY TWENTY YEARS SINCE THE LEGISLATURE ADDRESSED PROPERTY TAX PAYER AND HOME OWNERS.
Now the voters will be voting on whether or not to raise the Homestead/Farmstead exclusion from the current 50% of median assessed value, to 100% of each individual Homestead/Farmstead’s assessed value.
So why would the legislature pass this Constitutional Amendment when they aren’t even funding the existing 50% exclusion? And why would the PA Liberty Alliance and we here at LuLac recommend a YES vote?
After years of trying to pass HB/SB 76 to eliminate the school property tax for all properties in Pennsylvania, some legislators feel that it may be easier to first eliminate school property taxes for primary residences (Homesteads/Farmsteads) only in an effort to prevent struggling families and senior citizens from losing their homes at sheriff auctions, and also to give relief to many more who are being crushed by ever-increasing property taxes.
Unlike the State Representative who represents my district, I still believe that HB/SB 76 is the best approach, as it completely changes the status-quo and would be an enormous benefit to our economy. I do, however, recommend a YES vote for two reasons.
First, the Amendment itself doesn’t do anything to provide relief. If the voters approve the ballot question, their property taxes will still be there the next day. This initiative only allows for a future piece of legislation to reduce or eliminate property taxes, at which time the bill  will either be supported or opposed. But, and HERE’S THE IMPORTANT PART HERE, this amendment would simply allow for more future options.
Second, the legislators will treat this ballot question as a referendum on property tax elimination. If the voters vote “no”, legislators and special interest groups who oppose property tax elimination will say that Pennsylvania residents don’t believe there is a property tax problem.
Regardless of the real reason you may have voted “no”, this will be the interpretation. You don’t get to explain why you voted “no” and this will only serve to make our fight even more difficult.
If, however, the voters approve the ballot question, there will be much more leverage in getting something meaningful passed. A “yes” vote will even aid in the fight to pass SB76, even though it would not use the Homestead/Farmstead exclusion when signed into law.
The same special interest lobbying organizations who are opposing SB 76 are also ramping up their opposition to the ballot question. This should send you a clear signal. It boils down to this…
If you want to maintain the status-quo of ever-increasing property taxes and you don’t mind that this unfair tax is devastating hard working families and leaving up to 10,000/year homeless, then vote “no”.
If, however, you believe the property tax should be eliminated, or at a minimum needs some serious attention, then vote “yes” next Tuesday.
10,000+ folks lose their homes to the Sheriff yearly in PA...you can assist them and yourself!
Property owners have been paying the freight for TOO LONG. There is a crack in the doorway by Voting YES. 
It puts Legislators on notice that they need to get off their asses and do this. 
That will lead the way for taxpayers who own homes and pay for the big administrative salaries, the cousins and nephews hired by political School Boards, the pensions of the retired teachers that we pay for.....this gives taxpayers/homeowners a chance to kick that door in.
LET’S DO THIS!


11 Comments:

At 8:48 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

So you are suggesting to vote yes for a ballot measure that has no real meaning, it is not binding, and its intent is to pacify the masses?
Seems like typical PA coalminer mentality.

 
At 9:55 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Very interesting and insightful.
Like many others I'm sure, was unaware of this.

 
At 10:08 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tangle the line with some bullshit ballot initiative. Nothing will come of it, but we tried.
The reason PA politicians continue to get away with pulling the wool over the populace's collective eyes is because of this kind of garbage maneuvering.
It means nothing, it will do nothing, but he "we tried," and the idiots will continue to vote the same.
Vote for it, vote against it, don't vote on it at all - it means absolutely nothing, no matter how much you try and shine shit with your fanciful explanation.

 
At 3:13 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

So you are suggesting to vote yes for a ballot measure that has no real meaning, it is not binding, and its intent is to pacify the masses?
Seems like typical PA coalminer mentality.

IN RESPONSE

1. It will put lawmakers on notice that their actions are being watched. Some are dead men walking and they don't even know it yet.
2. Vote no if you want, but that will only give the special interests the ammunition they need to say we don't want reform.
3. The masses are tired of being pacified. We have more than a few reps in this area, Mullery and Kaufer come to mind who think it is time.
4. Right now this is the first chance we have in 20 years to send a message. My opinion is if you don't think it'll work, then that's waht you think. Your entitled to that thought.
But the rest of us will use this as a tool to get what we want.
So now that you stated your opinion, please get out of the way.

 
At 3:14 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

no matter how much you try and shine shit with your fanciful explanation.

IN RESPONSE

OOOOOO....fanciful. Gonna put that on the resume!

 
At 3:15 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

Very interesting and insightful.
Like many others I'm sure, was unaware of this.

IN RESPONSE

Thanks for reading and your kind words.

 
At 3:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"But the rest of us will use this as a tool to get what we want."

It is so cute you actually believe that.

I guess it is true as we age and become dottering we revert to infantile thoughts and beliefs. Don't forget to leave a tooth for the fairy to leave you a shiny quarter at night. Yesh.

 
At 9:58 PM, Blogger David Yonki said...

It is so cute you actually believe that.

I guess it is true as we age and become dottering we revert to infantile thoughts and beliefs. Don't forget to leave a tooth for the fairy to leave you a shiny quarter at night. Yesh.

IN RESPONSE

Yawn.

 
At 12:04 PM, Anonymous Tommy. B. said...

I agree 100 % Dave. This B.S. MUST STOP. I am on a fixed income and in fear of losing my home for real.

 
At 12:16 PM, Anonymous Tommy. B. said...

Amen.

 
At 6:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...


As Donna Brazile has revealed, votes don't matter, the power elite will do what they want. Stay home and get ****ed by your significant other, it is consensual and much more satisfying than getting ****ed by politicians.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home