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Hazleton native promoted to captain, commanding officer of PSP troop in Wyoming

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Victim of fatal fire in Exeter Township identified

Once again there are rumblings in Harrisburg about pushing legislation some lawmakers and their allies say will eliminate &#8220;all&#8221; school property taxes. Nobody should believe that this is even remotely possible.Right now, there is no feasible and economically prudent proposal on the table that makes up for the nearly $12 billion that comes from local property taxes.The Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, of which I am the current president, adamantly opposes the short-sighted proposal for several reasons.One: As I said, the plan would NOT eliminate all school property taxes as these advocates claim. In addition to county taxes, homeowners who live in school districts with debt (about 490 out of 500) will not see their property taxes eliminated until the debt is gone. So not only will homeowners still be paying property tax for many years to come, but through this proposal we would also shoulder a 40 percent increase in our personal income tax and additional sales taxes.Two: According to the state&#8217;s Independent Fiscal Office, the proposal would result in a $1 billion deficit for our public schools by 2017-2018.Three: The plan would tax important services required under state and federal laws. This is simply not good tax policy.The growing burden of school property taxes is a big concern, but lawmakers (and subsequently the supporters of this plan) first need to address the major cost drivers in the system, including pensions and the absence of a prevailing wage index, before looking at a massive restructuring of Pennsylvania&#8217;s local school funding system.Julius C. GreenPresidentPennsylvania Institute of CPAsPhiladelphia

Letter to the Editor: Total elimination of Pennsylvania’s school property taxes a foolhardy fantasy