February 14, 2001

Bard Testifies Before House Appropriations Committee

Lawmaker seeks larger education subsidies, greater property tax relief

 

HARRISBURG—Montgomery County lawmaker Rep. Ellen M. Bard (R-153) testified before the House Appropriations Committee on the need for an increase in state education subsidies, more significant property tax relief for senior citizens, and prescription drug assistance for the elderly.

Bard requested that her colleagues endorse the concept that the basic education subsidy for all school districts be guaranteed at an alternative rate equal to the greater of the 1991-92 per-pupil subsidy multiplied by a school district’s current average daily membership or 2 percent over the last year’s per-pupil subsidy.

"Although the guaranteed 1 percent per-pupil increase inserted into the Public School Code last year during budget negotiations as a result of my efforts has helped significantly to alleviate the dearth of funding for growing school districts like Abington, more help is needed," Bard said. "The increase I propose this year is needed to thoroughly reverse the trend that caused Abington School District to see per-pupil subsidies go from $640 per pupil in 1991-92 to $579 per pupil in 1999-00.

The lawmaker noted that the subsidy formula has discriminated financially against growing school districts to such a severe degree that the funding gap passed on to local taxpayers has been overwhelming.

"Whenever I go door-to-door, I meet so many older residents who worry that they are being chased from their homes by the tax collector because of high property taxes," she said. "The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program remains the perfect vehicle for addressing the situation because it provides relief where it is needed most."

The lawmaker said one-fourth of the 99 claimants her district office processed for 1999 paid 25 percent or more of their total household income in local property taxes. The maximum rebate of $500 was received by little more than half of the claimants.

Bard proposed raising the program’s cap to $1,000.

Finally, Bard voiced her support for the governor’s proposal to expand the budget for home care services as well as for House Bill 1, which would expand the state’s lottery-funded prescription drug benefit program for seniors.