Gillespie Supports Effort to Put Property Tax Relief on November Ballot
Harrisburg, PA – April 27, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — State Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam) was among General Assembly members to stand in support Monday of legislation that would place options for property tax relief on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot. If passed, voters would be able to select from several different property tax reduction or elimination bills.
“Property tax relief remains the number one response when I ask constituents about issues that concern them the most,” Gillespie said. “This legislation makes finding a solution to the burden that our citizens are bearing a priority in Harrisburg, and then gives Pennsylvania voters and homeowners a stronger and more direct voice on what to do to provide property tax relief.”
House Bill 637 requires members of the House and Senate to introduce bills relating to property tax reform by May 1. The three bills receiving the most co-sponsors in each chamber will appear on the November ballot. Differences in proposals would be settled by a House-Senate conference committee, which would determine the three options to be put before the electorate in a non-binding referendum.
“The time for seriously dealing with Pennsylvania’s back-breaking system of collecting property taxes is past due,” added Gillespie. “Why not demand that the Legislature come up with solutions to the problem and offer them to the people who have demanded this of their legislators, and then give them an opportunity to vote on the best way to solve the dilemma that has plagued Pennsylvanians wallets for far too long?”
The proposal selected in the November election would have to pass both chambers and be signed by the governor in order to become law. The bill is being considered by the House Finance Committee.
Rep. Keith Gillespie
47th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(717) 705-7167
(717) 840-4711
House Republican Public Relations
Contact: Scott B. Little
(717) 260-6137
