Life Without Act 72: What Happens Next

By Rep. Samuel Rohrer
128th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

When something as hyped as Act 72 fails to gain public support, the question of why quickly surfaces.
Was Act 72 rejected by school boards across the state because it failed to substantively address the school funding issue? Or because the funding would not materialize for a number of years, with the true amount of tax relief unknown? Or perhaps because it offered such an insignificant amount of property tax relief that it was not worth the strings that were attached?

All of these are likely answers that stem from Act 72 being ill-conceived, fatally-flawed legislation that is impossible of being reshaped into effective legislation. It needs to be abandoned not altered.
The rejection of Act 72 across the state by hundreds of school boards reflects public opinion. The people do not want what Act 72 would have provided: complexity and minimal tax relief. Therefore, any more discussion of mandating voter approval of Act 72 is useless and further delays solving the school property tax problem.

As we look back on the aftermath of Act 72’s failure to gain public support, we are left with few choices. One of these options is capable of restoring stability to education funding through a simple, workable and desired method; all the others fail.

We can do nothing and allow the school property tax problem to intensify. We can delay for an unknown time hoping a remedy materializes before a school funding crisis erupts. We can mandate voter approval and continue to pin our hopes on an indeterminate amount of minimal relief. Or we can embrace legislation that has been available for months to the Governor and members of the General Assembly as the only true solution to our current school funding predicament.

This legislation, known as the Commonwealth Caucus’ Plan for Pennsylvania’s Future, fixes the problem by eliminating school property taxes. Even in the best scenario, Act 72 gives you only a few hundred dollars, several years down the road after your property taxes have most-likely risen. The Caucus’ plan eliminates your school property taxes and, via a lower, broadened sales tax, provides predictable revenues for school districts as well as fairness and flexibility for the taxpayer.

The Caucus’ plan is also the only comprehensive education funding reform package to be put before the legislature that establishes certain funding for the future, addresses equity and efficiency concerns, and provides true relief for the taxpayer. I encourage you to see how the Caucus’ plan will benefit you by visiting the Commonwealth Caucus website at: www.commonwealthcaucus.org.