tool name
closeBELLEFONTE — Gov. Ed Rendell told an audience of about 125 people gathered in Bellefonte Area High School’s lobby that his proposal to raise the personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.57 percent would better serve school districts, students and taxpayers than the alternative.
For the CDT/Eric Smith
Governor Ed Rendell walks by organizations and individuals protesting a state tax hike on his way into Bellefonte High School on Thursday. Rendell spoke to educators, concerned taxpayers, supporters and union representatives about the state budget and taxes. For the CDT/Eric Smith
- County workers may face layoffs
- Rendell to stump for budget in Bellefonte Thursday
“Even if you’re unemployed and have no income, you have to pay the increase in property taxes. Our plan is much fairer,” Rendell said. Schools rely heavily on real estate taxes for funding, and Rendell said they’re facing increased property tax increases.
“Education should not depend on the zip codes (students) go to,” said Rendell, who brought the ongoing state budget debate to the home district of Sen. Jake Corman, R-Benner Township. Corman chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and is a lead backer of Senate Bill 850, which calls for the state’s basic education subsidies to remain flat.
The Democratic governor’s proposal would increase basic education subsidies by $418 million. For Bellefonte, that’s a $400,000 difference just in its basic education subsidy. Overrall, Rendell said the district is looking at an $840,000 difference.
About 20 protesters greeted Rendell at the entrance to the high school, chanting “No tax hike.”
“Raising our taxes during a recession, to me, is insanity,” said Wendy Brown of State College, who held a sign saying “No tax hike!” one side and “cut your waste” on the other.
For more details, read tomorrow's Centre Daily Times.
In Print
@Nyx.CommentBody@