Feb. 24, 2015
HARRISBURG – In continuing efforts to enact meaningful property tax relief for Pennsylvania homeowners, the House voted in favor of a homestead exclusion bill to protect principle places of residence from property taxes through an amendment to the state constitution, said Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne).
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House Bill 147 seeks to change the constitution to give local taxing authorities the power to completely exclude homesteads from property taxes, and allows the General Assembly to enact legislation that would provide 100 percent property tax relief,” Kaufer explained. “With Luzerne County recently eliminating its homestead exemption, it’s that much more important for the state to act on property taxes. With this legislation, we can eliminate homeowners’ property taxes.”
Current law states that local taxing authorities can exclude taxation up to 50 percent of the median assessed value of homestead property within the taxing district. House Bill 147 states the exclusion level allows up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction.
“The high cost of property taxes is the No. 1 issue I hear about from residents of the 120th District,” Kaufer said. “I voted in favor of this bill in the Finance Committee a few weeks ago, and again today on the House floor. I will continue to support any legislation that lessens the burdensome effects of unaffordable property taxes.”
This legislation must be passed twice by the General Assembly in consecutive legislative sessions and then be approved by the people of Pennsylvania to be enacted. A similar bill passed the House during the previous legislative session, but was not brought up before the Senate.
For information about this or any other legislative topic, please contact Kaufer by email at
AKaufer@pahousegop.com, through his website at
www.RepKaufer.com, by telephone at 570-283-1001, or through Facebook at
www.Facebook.com/RepKaufer.
Representative Aaron Kaufer
120th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
KCorbin@pahousegop.com