School taxes in Pennsylvania may soar to pay for pension promises

Think your school taxes were high this year? Start saving for 2012-13. That's when Pennsylvania property owners will pay a lot more money to cover the generous pension bump state lawmakers awarded themselves, school employees and state workers in 2001.

[Steve]

The legislation should be reversed in light of the nation's economy coupled with the state's economy.
Lawmakers in 2001 could not foresee the crazy spending by the Obozo administration and Congress in 2009.

[Bill]

It's time to force a change. Why should taxpayers be forced to cover the downfalls of public employee pensions? Why is it when times are bad and private pension plans get hit, we have to take what we are given and then pay extra to cover public pensions? Yet when times are great and public pension funds are reaping a major havest, none of that harvest comes back to taxpayers. It's time to make the change and make the playing field level.

[Bonniangels]

How about taxing renters this time .
Home owners always get the bill .
Not fair .

[ReduceOurTaxesNo w]

If it comes and no pain is shared, then we're done with PA! My house will be dumped, my neighb's will suffer and I will have to move my family to an apartment or in with relatives, elsewhere.

[Truth Matters]

I think citizens of Pennsylvania should be able to vote whether there are increased school taxes or not. Without any oversight, schools systems don't seem to know how to budget themselves, therefore it should be up to the voters to provide the oversight.

[fred]

Taxation without representation.
That is why We had a revolution the first time, maybe it is time for another.
Put a halt to all welfare except in
extreme cases. The free ride has got to come to an end or this Country will.
Taxpayers unite!

[Littlestown Resident]

Bonniangels wrote:

How about taxing renters this time .
Home owners always get the bill .
Not fair .

When you rent a house you don't think the landlord is renting at a loss do you? The higher taxes will be in the rent.

[Man in Black]

Truth Matters wrote:

I think citizens of Pennsylvania should be able to vote whether there are increased school taxes or not. Without any oversight, schools systems don't seem to know how to budget themselves, therefore it should be up to the voters to provide the oversight.

One of the major problems with that and all school districts is all the federal mandates that they must follow. NCLB dictates what and how much schools must spend to comply. Add the cost of all the EXTRA things that come out of that money (breakfast for kids, trips for school board...) it all adds up.

We need a leaner government on all levels, federal, state, and local. All of them are spending up into bankruptcy. The trouble is where to cut. If you cut salaries then you will lose the best workers. If you cut social programs you are demonized for not caring about the disadvantaged. The people who we elect to make these decisions are making their choices based on what is going to keep them in office, and what is PC. Non of them look farther than the next election.

[Taxpayer too]

Man in Black wrote:

<quoted text>
One of the major problems with that and all school districts is all the federal mandates that they must follow. NCLB dictates what and how much schools must spend to comply. Add the cost of all the EXTRA things that come out of that money (breakfast for kids, trips for school board...) it all adds up.
We need a leaner government on all levels, federal, state, and local. All of them are spending up into bankruptcy. The trouble is where to cut. If you cut salaries then you will lose the best workers. If you cut social programs you are demonized for not caring about the disadvantaged. The people who we elect to make these decisions are making their choices based on what is going to keep them in office, and what is PC. Non of them look farther than the next election.

So why don't you run? Oh yeah, that would require some work on your part.

[Bonniangels]

Said by a renter .
Do u even no how much the taxes r ?
Clueless ?

[No More Public Schools]

NO MORE SOCIALISM. End public schools now and fire the public school teachers. End the multitude of school district kingdoms that keep fleecing the taxpayers out of their money. No more fleecing of taxpayers for their state funded pensions.

If you have kids, it is about time YOU PAY for their education. You have 3, 5, 10 kids - you had them, YOU PAY. You pay for their education at private school or home school them. NO MORE GOVERNMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. Parents stop the socialism and support private industry.

School teachers go to work in private industry. I am tired of hearing your never ending complaints and never ending demands from the taxpayers.

[Sabbathkeeper]

THANK YOU REPUBLICANS TOM RIDGE AND HIS STATE HOUSE/ SENATE BACK IN 2001!!! Now why is this NOT being recinded??? My property is worth less money now since the real estate bubble has burst! When I purchased my property back then (2001) the total taxes were $1,600/ year, now i'm paying over $5,000. Why dont they lower my taxes since my property has depreciated back to those levels??? WHY ARE THEY GOING UP??? TIME FOR A REVOLT!!!

[Sabbathkeeper]

No More Public Schools wrote:

NO MORE SOCIALISM. End public schools now and fire the public school teachers. End the multitude of school district kingdoms that keep fleecing the taxpayers out of their money. No more fleecing of taxpayers for their state funded pensions.
If you have kids, it is about time YOU PAY for their education. You have 3, 5, 10 kids - you had them, YOU PAY. You pay for their education at private school or home school them. NO MORE GOVERNMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS. Parents stop the socialism and support private industry.
AMEN!!!!!
School teachers go to work in private industry. I am tired of hearing your never ending complaints and never ending demands from the taxpayers.

AMEN!!!

[Man in Black]

Taxpayer too wrote:

<quoted text>
So why don't you run? Oh yeah, that would require some work on your part.

I would run but I have too much baggage in my past. Kinda hard to get elected after working 7 years as a DJ in a strip club. Those kinds of things tend to limit ones ability to gain office. I devote my time to my neighborhood. Picking up trash, watch patrols, etc.

[wph351]

Littlestown Resident wrote:

<quoted text>
When you rent a house you don't think the landlord is renting at a loss do you? The higher taxes will be in the rent.

Obviously clueless....

Many landlords are renting out properties at a loss with property taxes increasing every year along with someland lords being stuck covering certain utilities.

And its not always possible to raise the rent to make up the difference. You can force your tenants into a move, while at the same time not being able to replace them because of the inflated asking price because of the increased costs.

You would be suprised how many landlords have been forced into the red over the past few years.

[tool]

As a democrat it will be my honor to pay more taxes. All you whiners should just dig a little deeper.

[old salt]

suck it up people, dont matter who you vote for or how many calls you make to your senators, they make the rules as they go, and we pay the piper.
Get used to it or start a revolution.

[Juan Moore]

tool wrote:

As a democrat it will be my honor to pay more taxes. All you whiners should just dig a little deeper.

you're funny!

Why is Obama whining about the USA's decline in scholastic ratings compared to the rest of the world....

Obviously "the democrat that wants everyone to dig a little deeper"must be an "educator" w/ a public funded pension....

[Voice of Reason]

wph351 wrote:

<quoted text>
Obviously clueless....
Many landlords are renting out properties at a loss with property taxes increasing every year along with someland lords being stuck covering certain utilities.
And its not always possible to raise the rent to make up the difference. You can force your tenants into a move, while at the same time not being able to replace them because of the inflated asking price because of the increased costs.
You would be suprised how many landlords have been forced into the red over the past few years.

I am such a Landlord. You are right.

[used to live here]

wph351 wrote:

<quoted text>
Obviously clueless....
Many landlords are renting out properties at a loss with property taxes increasing every year along with someland lords being stuck covering certain utilities.
And its not always possible to raise the rent to make up the difference. You can force your tenants into a move, while at the same time not being able to replace them because of the inflated asking price because of the increased costs.
You would be suprised how many landlords have been forced into the red over the past few years.

Could not agree more, with the increase cost of gas and electric, most rents have remained stagnant in the last few years. Passing on a tax increase directly to a tenant just doesn't happen these days.