Issue Position: Property Tax Reform

Issue Position

Pennsylvania has one of the highest property tax burdens in the country, and southeastern Pennsylvania stands out with the highest property taxes in the state. As a homeowner, Joe understands the very real problem of high property taxes in our region, and the burden that it places on homeowners, families, and seniors. However, property taxes are an especially big problem in southeast Pennsylvania, simply because most of our school budgets come from local tax revenue instead of from the state, unlike school districts in western and northern Pennsylvania. This is why Joe will be a strong advocate for fair funding for education, which will bring millions of dollars back to our school districts and lower property taxes for local residents.

But as a school member, Joe also sees areas in which we can save money in the education system. The overwhelming majority of school expenses are mandated by the state: for example, the state mandates 65% of Spring-Ford School District's budget, but only provides 19% of its budget. These mandates are provided by a school code written in 1949, and some of them go back to the 1800s. Joe will use his experience to work with education stakeholders in rewriting the school code, removing mandates that don't provide any educational value, and passing along the savings to our taxpayers. Through a combination of fair funding for education and reducing expenses through educational mandate reform, we can achieve meaningful relief for our property owners.

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