[2banana]

Dear Rita Giordano,

Funny how you don't mention where any of that tax money is going. The majority of property taxes are school taxes.

1. 2/3 of any school budget goes to teacher and administrator salaries and benefits. In the area I live, many teachers' are making close to $100,000/year for 180 days of work plus some of the best benefits in the country (salaries are even higher in some of the area you reported on). They pay nothing for health care and have pensions unheard of in the private sector.

2. The Teacher's Union. Whenever a district tries to at least hold the line on teacher's salaries or benefits, they are faced with a strike at the beginning of the school year. The teacher's know that they will not be replaced and that pressure from parent's work schedules will eventually bring the district to settle in their favor.

3. I am sorry that seniors are being forced out of their housing due to high taxes. Have they voted for candidates for lower taxes? Have they run themselves? Have they promoted any kind of alternatives? Have they done anything except suggest that someone else should pay for their share?

The basic equation is that outrageous pay and benefits (unseen in the private sector) for teachers and administrators backed by a powerful union and a state monopoly are forcing the higher taxes. This, in turn, is forcing seniors and working class families (especially with children) out of their homes.

Regards,

2banana

[Fudd]

It is my understanding that in PA, school districts can (and often do) raise property taxes without voter approval. I won't live in such an environment.

[cynicom]

Shame on those people, not wanting to do what has to be done for the "children". We have to have those huge marvelous buildings and we need quality help, so 100k a year is well worth it.

Terrible people, wanting to keep their own money, how horrible.

[hipaatwo]

I hope this is one more nail in the coffin for Rendell.

[1Old Pro]

Only 21 percent of American workers have traditional pensions, so many boomers will have to finance largely on their own what's expected to be unprecedented longevity. "I think you've got a huge problem out there with individuals who have been handed the keys to their retirement future without an owner's manual," VanDerhei said. Many boomers had children later and will be paying college costs at a time when past generations saved for retirement. Many will help pay for the care of their longer-living parents.

I AGREE 110% that taxes are rising TOO quickly. I also know that boomers are not saving and the "retirement" squeeze will effect them greatly.

[Huck]

Funny how you don't mention where any of that tax money is going.

Thank you. I skimmed the whole piece looking for just that. Assessors are coming over tonight to reassess my place (Sussex Cty, NJ.) We've been knocking down their school referendums like bowling pins. It looks like it's coming up for yet ANOTHER vote. We keep rejecting their requests for more money. hell, I don't even have kids.

[Arthalion]

Sounds like they need to take a close look at California's Prop 13. That 1% yearly property tax cap is one of the few reasons why I still live in this state. The day the libbies succed in overturning it is the day I move out of this state forever.

[Wiseghy]

Sounds like they could use a CA style Prop. 13 out there.

This is a good example of what happens when government has no restraints on tax increases.

How can you really "own" something if you must pay taxes on it? Aren't you really just "leasing" it from the gov.?

[VeniVidiVici]

Both sons said they would pay the taxes if they could. Rich, a computer programmer, recently had a big property tax hike. He ate sandwiches for a while and got a raise. He knows his father isn't getting any raises.

And..AND?? So they aren't going to pay? Sounds to me that between three families they can cut back enough to pay for mom and dad to stay in Jersey.

I feel sorry for anyone who has to put-up with that tax system that raises your property taxes to match what your property supposedly appreciates year-after-year. What a scam.

[Erik Latranyi]

My wife is a former elementary school teacher. We recently received a piece of mail from the Dems and Rendell touting the increases in education spending so Pennsylvania can have a world-class workforce.

My reaction is that Pennsylvania is 49th in job creation during this latest recovery. What do Democrats do? Raise taxes (income and property), increase education spending so Pennsylvania children can leave the state and work elsewhere.

They think businesses move to areas where the schools are good. I know that it is way down on the priority list. Businesses have no problem importing and relocating workers.

A home-grown educated workforce is not needed.

[Coleus]

We have one of the largest amt. of workers on the public payroll than any other state, 575 municipalities and over 600 school districts each with their own payroll in one of the smallest states , billions in debt, pension plans that were underfunded funded for 7 years, etc. it's just snowballing.

[Mo1]

1. 2/3 of any school budget goes to teacher and administrator salaries and benefits. In the area I live, many teachers' are making close to $100,000/year for 180 days of work plus some of the best benefits in the country (salaries are even higher in some of the area you reported on). They pay nothing for health care and have pensions unheard of in the private sector.

Sounds like the school district I live in

The teachers unions get everything they want ... including the kitchen sink

[Fury]

Ping for further read

[Graymatter]

I was paying $20,000 a year in property taxes on two houses in NJ. Now I pay $400 a year for one house in PA. Nice big house with a yard, and better neighbors. Crime rate almost nil, and gun ownership is legal and normal.
Some folks just need to know they don't have to live in a particular place. I miss Jersey sometimes but I'm glad I left. There are better things to do with $19,600 than give it to the government.

[Physicist]

I recently fled Lansdowne (just outside of Philly) for Gilbertsville (halfway to Reading). The tax rate here is less than half what it was in Lansdowne, and EVERYTHING is better...except the radio reception! LOL

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

"We made sacrifices so we could benefit in the future. I'm not sure what kind of benefits I'm going to reap right now."


Oh, cry me a river, Puh-Leze! I am so sick of hearing about retirees 'but I'm on fixed income (sniffsniff)' Well guess what geezers so are us younger folk raising kids on more money going OUT of our paycheck because of YOUR precious Socialist Security!!

Go get your free shoes from Medicare and your freebie Fat People Cart and take up the whole aisle somewhere else!! Don't forget to thank the professional pedicurist for me as you walk out the door too!

This totally frosts me. I bet a dollar if they moved the kids might move too. They got to take most of their paycheck home when they were my age. Now I have to give up more and more of it for them and government schools.

Thanx FDR!

[silverleaf]

Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop could have probably moved to Delaware and kept family closer. Or the two sons could have paid Mom-Mom to babysit (assuming one of both of them are paying for child care). Or Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop could have considered a reverse mortgage and spent their kids' inheritance. But it sounds like a new house in Del Boca Vista Florida was part of the attraction. Florida will be a cold and lonely place for a lot of old peoplr with no local support network.

I worry about rapacious property taxes too. No longer can see long term plans to stay in my house. Yes, we do not own property anymore in America, we are "leasing" from the government.

[Skooz]

Property taxes are immoral.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Move to Florida!

No state income tax.

I live in a suburb of Orlando in Seminole County. Look at the cap in property taxes we have:

Effective January 1, 1995, the annual increase in value for residential property with a homestead exemption is limited by constitutional amendment approved by the voters. State laws and regulations have been put into force to implement this limit.

The “Save Our Homes Amendment”, (sometimes referred to as “Amendment 10”) became effective January 1, 1995 as an amendment to the Florida Constitution.

It was voted upon and passed by a Florida citizen’s initiative on November 3, 1992. The amendment stated that the annual assessment of homestead property shall not exceed the lower of either three percent (3%) of the assessment for the prior year or the percent increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

So, there you have it. Very low cap on property taxes and ZERO state income tax. Leave the BS behind and come to Florida.

[Spirited]

You have to understand that it is the right of the illegals to have their children educated even though they don't pay the taxes. In fact the State also pays for their college education deficit since they are allowed to pay in-state tuition scales and get most of the scholarships available due to "need".

[Nat Turner]

Goodbye FROST/RUSTBELT

Hello SUN/BIBLEBELT