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Senator briefs Bradford County on proposed homestead-exemption increase that could cut about $5 million from local revenue
Summary
State Senator Bradley told the board that a special-session proposal would raise the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $250,000 for homesteads and reduce the non-homestead valuation cap from 10% to 5%, a change that staff estimate could reduce Bradford County revenue by roughly $5 million and would be phased in over several years.
Senator Bradley told the Bradford County Board of County Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting that a state special session has amended a proposal to raise the homestead exemption on residential property from the current $50,000 baseline toward $250,000 and to lower the non-homestead valuation cap from 10% to 5%.
The senator said the amendment under consideration would not include school taxes in the increased homestead exemption and that the legislature removed earlier language creating a state trust fund to offset local shortfalls. "It would be 250,000 of a homestead exemption," he said, describing the change the governor initially proposed and the adjustments the legislature has made.
Why it matters: County staff previously estimated a roughly $5.4 million loss to Bradford County under a full elimination scenario; Bradley and county staff said updated modeling under the amended proposal is expected to be close to that amount and that counties should plan now. "This would not affect next year's budget because you're going to approve that in October," the senator said, urging the board to model phased impacts as the exemption would be implemented over multiple years.
Board members asked for details about timing, which taxing authorities would be affected, and outreach to residents. Bradley described a phase-in: a partial increase in the first year and a later increase to the full $250,000 over subsequent budget years, and said the measure would only take effect if approved by 60% of voters in November and if the legislature’s amended language is adopted.
Board and staff reaction centered on planning and public education. Commissioners said they want county materials and outreach explaining the potential local impacts and asked staff to sharpen revenue estimates and include the phase-in timing in budget planning.
Next steps: The legislature was expected to act in the special session and, if both chambers adopt matching language, voters would decide the amendment in November. County staff said they will re-run financial models under the amended proposal and report back to the board.
