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Superintendent warns property-tax elimination bill could limit millage authority, raise state income tax
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Brian White told the board the proposed state property-tax elimination plan could raise Pennsylvania’s income tax and limit districts’ authority to raise millage for future construction, and said a local senator opposes the proposal.
Superintendent Dr. Brian White briefed the Chartiers Valley board on proposed state legislation to eliminate property taxes and replace school funding mechanisms with an elevated state income tax.
Dr. White said the proposed plan under discussion at the state level would allow districts to retain millage only for outstanding debt service (including bond payments) and would prevent boards from increasing property tax millage for new borrowing after current debts expire. He said the proposal would increase the state income tax from 3.07% to 4.95% (a 1.88% increase) under the funding proposal he described and noted that timing for any effective date remained uncertain and would require legislative action.
Dr. White said he serves on the Pennsylvania Administrators Association Legislative Committee and that the association believes votes may be in place to move such a bill; however, he also reported speaking with a state senator who does not support the plan because of adverse effects on that senator’s districts. Board members did not take formal action on the matter; the briefing served as information for potential future discussion as the legislative process develops.
Dr. White also noted the district’s participation in AP Capstone and ongoing communications-audit planning in the same update.