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Ron Ferrance: Donald Trump in tune with ‘everyday Americans,’ unlike his opponent

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Letter to the Editor: Support of ‘locker room talk’ sickening outside Donald Trump’s Mohegan Sun Arena rally

<p>The number-one issue vexing Pennsylvania has yet to be solved.</p><p>After 30 years, the electorate has become numb to idea after idea, committee after committee, bill after bill. The issue of property taxes vanishes after elections.</p><p>The casino money hasn&#8217;t put a dent in your property taxes. It never will. The looming pension crisis definitely will see to that.</p><p>There is a choice before you today. You can stand idly by, listening to the drone of &#8220;elect me&#8221; commercials and voting your party line. Or you can make a true difference in your life and the lives of generations of Pennsylvanians to come. You can be the one to help pass The Property Tax Independence Act.</p><p>The act will eliminate all school property taxes across the commonwealth and will replace those taxes with funding from a single state source. The most important provision is that it is revenue neutral. To provide absolute fairness, the legislation has been crafted to ensure that the tax-swap provision of the plan does not raise one dollar more than already is collected.</p><p>The Property Tax Independence Act will:</p><p>&#8226; Abolish the school property tax on all homesteads, farmsteads and businesses.</p><p>&#8226; Eliminate school property taxes via a two-year phase-out . The first year after enactment, school property taxes will be frozen at their current levels. The second year will bring complete elimination, except for those school districts that retain long-term obligations.</p><p>&#8226; Increase the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, providing a predictable and stable funding source that will automatically increase revenue in sync with economic growth.</p><p>&#8226; Increase the state income tax from 3.07 percent to 4.95 percent.</p><p>&#8226; Fully fund all districts by replacing the property tax dollar for dollar at each district&#8217;s current level. Each district will receive the resources it needs, regardless of the local ability to pay.</p><p>&#8226; Create a dedicated lockbox account for all property tax replacement revenues that is separate from the General Fund.</p><p>&#8226; Completely eliminate the taxing ability of school boards. Voters will finally gain true local control. Any requests for additional revenue from school districts must be presented via a no-exception ballot referendum.</p><p>&#8226; Finally put a stop to out-of-control and ever-increasing school budgets and property taxes.</p><p>The elimination of property taxes would clearly increase the attractiveness of the commonwealth for business location and expansion.</p><p>Spread the word. Talk to family, friends and neighbors. Grassroots initiatives depend on the voices of as many concerned taxpayers as possible.</p><p>Visit, write or email your state representative and senator. Encourage them to join the fight for passage of HB/SB 76, as this will determine your support in voting this election.</p><p>No tax should have the power to leave you homeless.</p><p><strong>Charles Urban</strong></p><p>Kingston</p><style>
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Letter to the Editor: Join the push to finally eliminate Pennsylvania’s property tax