PA Governor Rendell Calls Special Session of the Legislature on Property Tax Relief

Says General Assembly must guarantee home owners property tax cut

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Edward Rendell today called for state lawmakers to deliver property tax relief now to every qualifying homeowner in the commonwealth.

"We must pass property tax relief now," Governor Rendell said.

Using the powers of the state constitution, Governor Rendell called a special session of the General Assembly to specifically focus on providing tax relief for tens of thousands of Pennsylvania homeowners.

Standing with Marilyn and Walter Sondermann at their Drexel Hill, Pa., home - in one of 400 school districts that will not receive property tax relief under current law, the Governor said, "Getting real property tax relief shouldn't depend on where you live. We need to do this for the Sondermanns and homeowners across the state. Homeowners are looking for financial relief."

The Governor was joined by a bi-partisan group of legislative leaders in making the announcement in a school district where not one homeowner will see a reduction in property taxes. He spoke simultaneously via a telephone line to a group of seniors and local and state officials gathered in support of property tax relief at the Allegheny County Courthouse. "I want them to hear this news as well," the Governor said.

"Working together, we can and must guarantee that each and every homeowner in Pennsylvania will have their property taxes cut as promised," Governor Rendell said. "In convening a special session, I am asking the legislature to work in a focused way to remove legal barriers to delivering tax relief. I think these changes can be passed in short order and homeowners will see their property taxes cut in 2007."

Under the Governor's Proclamation, a Special Session will begin on Wednesday, September 28 at 11 a.m. The Governor called the extraordinary session to bring property tax relief to citizens by utilizing revenues generated by Act 71, which authorized a limited expansion of gaming.

On Monday, Governor Rendell outlined his fall agenda, which included amending current law to make property tax relief for all homeowners mandatory, as well as removing the mandatory Earned Income Tax hike. Governor Rendell called on the legislature to use this as a model when they convene on September 28 in the special session.

"We made a commitment to the taxpayer of Pennsylvania that gaming funds would reduce property taxes across the state - but we're only half way there," said Governor Rendell. "This special session will provide a focused way to deliver on that promise without the influence of other issues."

The Governor added that he and many members of the legislature agree that parts of the current law should not be changed, including the formula for distribution of property tax relief and the backend referenda, which provides a fair balance between school board and taxpayer authority over tax rates.

"The bipartisan group gathered here today shows that we agree the time is right," the Governor said. "We know what must be done."

A copy of Governor Rendell's Proclamation is provided below.

PROCLAMATION

SPECIAL AND EXTRAORDINARY SESSION
TAX RELIEF

By virtue of the authority vested in me by Article II, Section 4;
Article IV, Section 12; and Article III, Section 12, of the Constitution,
I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do
hereby convene the General Assembly in Special and Extraordinary Session,
to meet in the Capitol at Harrisburg, on Wednesday, September 28, 2005,
at 11 o'clock am, to bring tax relief to every qualifying home owner of
the Commonwealth utilizing revenues gained from those generated by Act 71
of 2004 or any other sources by considering legislation to amend the
Homeowner Tax Relief Act and any other relevant statutes.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the
Governor, at the City of Harrisburg,
this fifteenth day of September in the
year of our Lord two thousand and five,
and of the Commonwealth the two hundred
and thirtieth.

EDWARD G. RENDELL
Governor
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