Over 17 percent of Pennsylvania’s school districts are situated in multiple counties. Under the Public School Code, when determining property taxes, these districts are required to “rebalance” their millage rates annually using outdated market value data. This process establishes a complex and unfair tax system, because the Taxpayer Relief Act caps the amount a school district can raise property taxes, and the Public School Code has not been updated to reflect the provisions of that act. This results in property tax disparities and prevents these districts from providing adequate relief to citizens, especially those living on fixed incomes and struggling to make ends meet.

 

Therefore, this legislation would update the Public School Code by reflecting the property tax relief provisions in the Taxpayer Relief Act that single-county school districts utilize. This would allow multi-county school districts to eliminate the confusing rebalancing system, and ensure taxpayers in those school districts would be treated equally by being charged a uniform rate.

 

Please join me in providing an additional option for school districts with boundaries that extend into multiple counties to have a fairer taxation system and provide consistency for their residents.