Rep. Bard 's Bulletin …. Spring 1999
TOPICS
Dear Friends.... A word from Ellen
Homestead Tax
Tax Collection Standardization
Bard Bills Enacted Into Law
Property Tax & Rent Program
Senior Games & Expo
Bard Chairs Recreation Committee
Legislative Report
Important Websites
Property Tax & Rent Rebate
Priority - Report to Seniors
Legislative Priorities for 1999-2000
Technology 2000 Expo
Eagle Scout Stephen Powers
FAST
Rockledge Borough Grant Applications
Abington Trails Receive Check
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As Pennsylvanians look toward the next century with excitement and a sense of historic significance, the House of Representatives is focused on providing leadership for the future.
As State Representative, my priority goal for the 1999-2000 legislative session is to help ensure that older Pennsylvanians can remain comfortably in their own homes without fear of being crowded out by government and ever higher taxes.
Toward this end, I am introducing several bills and other legislation to: 1) increase Rent and Property Tax Rebates for eligible claimants; 2) provide targeted implementation of the Homestead Exemption; and finally, 3) a bill to completely eliminate all state and local taxes for specific 80 year-olds..
Another goal of particular importance to me is to help raise expectations regarding educational achievement. We must teach each child to strive for the highest possible educational achievement levels and we must demand that schools all across Pennsylvania foster excellence.
To promote better schools, I am co-sponsoring legislation to require school report cards be posted at the school house door. Like nutritional labels, these report cards will offer a product quality checklist for all to see. I am also co-sponsoring legislation to promote safe, stable learning environments.
The upcoming session promises to be an exciting one. I will continue my efforts to represent the residents of Abington and Rockledge with honesty, care, commitment and integrity.
Please let me and my staff know if we can be of assistance to you. Your opinions and concerns are important to us.
Sincerely,
Ellen M. Bard
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Bard Targets Homestead Tax Relief
As we return to Harrisburg at the open of a new legislative session, I have called for property tax relief for older Pennsylvanians living on fixed incomes. Targeted property tax relief will be my top priority during the upcoming 1999-2000 legislative session.
During the previous session, I strongly supported legislation to amend the State Constitution to allow for a Homestead exemption for residential property. I viewed a Homestead exemption as another opportunity to provide the property tax relief so badly needed by many of the older residents of our community. I was therefore delighted when the legislature passed the constitutional amendment and voters voted it into law.
Unfortunately, implementation of the Homestead exemption has not fully addressed the need. The one attempt at implementing tax reform, Act 50 of 1998, sometimes called the "School Property Tax Control Act," does not provide a viable mechanism for targeting property tax relief to those elderly residents who need it. For this and other reasons, I did not support Act 50.
I am hopeful, however, that other legislative initiatives will provide the necessary tax relief for needy senior citizens during the upcoming session.
As outlined in my letter on page 1, several proposals which I have made would address the problem. My House Bill 7, along with other legislative proposals, will be considered by the House Finance Committee in the upcoming months. In recent House action, I offered legislation as an amendment to a comprehensive tax reform bill now pending before the Senate. During the budget review process, I testified before the House Appropriations Committee, as I have in past years, about the extent and severity of the school tax burden on older, fixed income residents. And again, during this year’s budget deliberations, I will fight for an amendment to give our school district a guaranteed per-capita increase. Last year, my amendment passed the House 200-0. The more state money we can get, the lower our local tax bills will be.
If you have information which would be helpful to the Finance Committee as it reviews the various proposals I have put forth, please contact me at my district or Harrisburg office.
Tax Collection Standardization
Tax Law Tops Bard’s Legislative Update
Act 169 of 1998 – I am extremely pleased that my "Tax Collection Standardization" bill, House Bill 2200, has been signed into law. Act 169 of 1998, effective Dec. 31, 1999, will help identify "bad apple" tax collectors before taxpayers are hurt. This new law will help prevent the abuse that local taxpayers suffered here in Abington Township in the 1980s. For a complete copy of the law, please contact my district office, or review it online at www.legis.pa.state.us.
House Bill 7 – My previous House Bill 283 of 1997-98 and House Bill 1359 of 1995-96, which I reintroduced this session, would amend the state’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate program to increase the maximum eligible income from $15,000 to $20,000, and increase the maximum rebate from $500 to $700. The changes would benefit an estimated 55,000 homeowners. The bill is currently in the House Finance Committee.
House Bill 181 – This is my tax collector training initiative, also reintroduced this session. The bill would authorize the Department of Community and Economic Development to adopt a program of training, examination and qualification for tax collectors. The measure passed the House and is pending in the Senate.
House Bill 552 – My proposed legislation calls for civil immunity for anti-drug and townwatch volunteers. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting consideration by the full House.
HB 1488 - Decreasing Intangible Personal Property Tax Rates Act 54 of 1995
HB 2002 - Authorizing County Assessment Auxiliary Appeal
Boards Act 88 of 1996
HB 2118 - Increasing Criminal Mischief Grading for Graffitti Act 198 of 1996
HB 1125 - Creating Crime Relating to "Date Rape Drugs" Act 65 of 1997
HB 1108 - County Contract Procedures Act 72 of 1998
HB 1111 - Regulating Public Records Act 27 of 1998
HB 1113 - Copying of Public Records Act 28 of 1998
HB 1114 - Creation of County Records Committee Act 29 of 1998
HB 1116 - Copying Public Records Act 30 of 1998
HB 2200 - Local Tax Collection Standards/Reforms Act 169 of 1998
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The Property Tax and Rent Rebate program, another benefit program provided by the Pennsylvania Lottery, helped more than 300,000 households last year. Since its inception, more than $2.2 billion has been distributed in property tax and rent assistance. During the 1997-98 fiscal year, an estimated $2.7 million was distributed to qualifying residents in Montgomery County.
To qualify, you must be: 65 years of age or older; or 50 years of age or older and a widow or widower; or 18 years of age or older and totally disabled. Under current law, total household income must be $15,000 or less to be eligible. If you believe you qualify, contact my office for an application. (See my Legislative Update article for information on my proposed House Bill 7 to expand the PTRR program.) # # # #
The Montgomery County Senior Games will be held May 10 - 14 at the Montgomery County Community College. County resident 50 years of age or older may participate. The weeklong event will culminate with the Senior Expo, 9 a.m. to noon, May 14.
Pre-registration and pre-payment for participation in athletic events and Friday’s award luncheon are required. Pre-registration deadline is April 23. For more information and pre-registration forms, contact my office at (215) 881-BARD. # # # #
Bard Chairs Recreation Subcommittee
I am especially honored this session to be named Majority Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Recreation. The subcommittee falls under the jurisdiction of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee. Tourism as a state industry continues to grow, outpaced only by agriculture. In 1996, domestic and international travelers spent an estimated $13 billion in Pennsylvania, a 7 percent increase over 1995.
My other committee assignments include reappointment to the Local Government, Transportation, and Majority Policy committees; and a new appointment to the Liquor Control Committee. I also was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve a second term as the ranking House member on the Local Government Commission..
Be sure to watch "Legislative Report," my monthly cable television program on legislative happenings in the Capitol and local issues of concern.
If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to visit several key Web sites that will help you stay on top of what is going on in the 153rd District, in the General Assembly, in the Majority Caucus, and in the Commonwealth. Web site addresses are:
* www.ellenbard.com (local and district news);
* www.legis.state.pa.us (General Assembly information);
* www.pahousegop.com (Majority Caucus happenings);
* www.state.pa.us (state department and bureau news and services). ####
Representative Bard at Large
TAX RELIEF & RENT REBATE IS A TOP PRIORITY – At a news conference held at Montgomery County’s Senior Adult Activity Center, Rep. Bard announces her legislation to expand the state Property Tax and Rent Rebate program. Alta Griffiths (seated near the flag) joined Bard in speaking to the burden ever-higher taxes are placing upon many low- and fixed-income residents. Click for Photo
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - Montgomery County State Representative Ellen M. Bard (R-153) joins other area Republican legislators in outlining priorities for the 1999-2000 Legislative Session: tax relief for fixed- and low-income homeowners, education accountability; and controlling urban sprawl through planning and preservation. With Bard (l-r) are: John Fichter (R-Montgomery); Charles McIlhinney (R-Bucks); and David Steil (R-Bucks). Click for Photo
TECHNOLOGY 2000 EXPO
Abington School District participates in a Technology 2000 event held at Norristown High
School. Pictured with Rep. Bard (l-r) are: Liam Collins, of Abington High School; Jill
Stevens, of Highland Elementary: Jeff Chou, Highland Elementary teacher; Kerry Ann
Braunstein and Matt Welsh, of Abington High; and Kathie Martinez, of Highland Elementary.
The program was made possible by a Bell Atlantic Foundation grant.
Click for Photo
Rep. Bard presents a House citation to Eagle Scout Stephen Powers. Proud parents Nancy and Mike Powers as well as Glenside Commissioner Mike Gillespie join in on the ceremony. Click for Photo
Rep. Bard speaks to members of the Abington Families and Schools Together (FAST). Pictured (l-r): bottom row – Amy Linkenhoker; Lori Schreiber; Laura Brooke; top row – Carla Chaveb; Kate Bergman; Betty Pittman; Rep. Bard; Terry Montanaro; Karen Martinell; and Jeanne McGowen. Click for Photo
Rep. Bard joins Borough Council President Joe Denelsbeck and Rockledge Mayor Pat Goldberg in discussing grant applications for computerization, crime prevention, and the fire company. Click for Photo
ABINGTON TRAILS CHECK FROM ROTARY CLUB
Rep. Bard is on the receiving end of a check … this one from the Edge Hill Rotary
Club. The money, raised in a golf outing, is to be used for the Abington Greenway Trail.
Click for Photo