Rep. Bard's 1999 Spring Survey Results

1. Which issue do you think should be the top priority of the General Assembly in 1999-2000?
                                                                     Count                   Percent

A. Crime                                                        231                           18
B. Education                                                 338                           26
C. Environmental Preservation                   110                             8
D. Infrastructure/Road Improvements        114                            9
E. Job Creation                                               48                            4
F. Tax Reduction                                          430                           33
G. Other                                                          49                            4

                                                          Total 1,320                        102*   ( *due to rounding)

TAXATION

Currently, there are a number of tax reduction proposals circulating in Harrisburg. One proposal would reduce the Personal Income Tax Rate from 2.8% to 2.7%. Such a reduction would benefit all workers and persons with other taxable income, including owners of certain businesses. A second proposal would expand the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program, which provides property tax rebates to persons 65 years of age or older, widows and widowers 50 years of age or older, and permanently disabled persons who meet certain income requirements. A final proposal would reduce the Inheritance Tax.

2. Considering the aforementioned proposals, which one would you favor most: Count Percent A. A reduction in the Personal Income Tax: 529 37 B. An Expansion of the Senior Citizen Property Tax Rent Rebate Program: 666 46 C. A reduction in the Inheritance Tax: 253 .12 Total 1,448 100 3. What would be your second choice? Count Percent A. A reduction in the Personal Income Tax: 398 37 B. An Expansion of the Senior Citizen Property Tax Rent Rebate program: 321 30 C. A reduction in the Inheritance Tax: 352 3.3 Total 1,071 100 4. How important to you is cutting government spending and reducing the size of government? Count Percent A. Very important: 932 63 B. Somewhat important: 437 30 C. not important: 111 Total 1480 101*

*Totals may be greater than 100% due to rounding 5. Should small businesses that provide child care assistance to employees receive tax credits? Count Percent A. Yes 1,126 79 B.No 306 21 Total 1432 100 6. Should Pennsylvania residents 80 years of age and older be exempt from all state and local taxes? Count Percent A. Yes 863 59 B.No 41 Total 1473 100 7. If you answered no to question number 6, would you favor exempting only those 80-year-old persons who meet certain low-income guidelines? Count Percent A. Yes 662 85 B.No ) 12Q 15 Total 782 100

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

As of February, 1997, the federally appointed Education Commission of the States identified 22 states which have already implemented “academic bankruptcy laws”. These accountability statutes provide for various stages of state intervention in those school districts identified as consistently performing below average academically.

8. Should Pennsylvania adopt “academic bankruptcy laws” and intervene in those school districts which consistently perform below average academically? Count Percent A. Yes 802 51 B. No 271 17 C. Undecided/Not sure 494 3.2 Total 1,567 100

SCHOOL VIOLENCE

9. Again thinking about the school in your area, do you feel that school violence is a significant problem, somewhat of a prob lem, not a problem at all, or are you not sure: Count Percent A. A significant problem: 287 20 B. Somewhat of a problem: 626 43 C. Not a problem at all; or 176 12 D.Undecided I Not sure: 32~ Total 1,467 101*