As Ohio Struggles with School Funding, Pennsylvania Proposes Eliminating Property Tax Funding for Schools

June 6, 2012 | 1:12 PM

Ohio’s is not alone in its struggle to find a “fair” way to fund public education. The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled the system is unconstitutional several times. The court says the problem is that the system’s reliance on local tax dollars (which are generally from property taxes) means the quality of education children receive is tied too closely to where they live.

The other problem with the system is that homeowners don’t like paying big tax bills, and are generally reluctant to approve new property tax levies for schools.

Our neighbors in Pennsylvania are considering replacing the property taxes that fund public schools with higher state income and sales taxes. A vote on the proposal is expected next week.

Source: Post-gazette
Via: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Many of his colleagues worry about the higher state income tax and state sales tax that the bill calls for. It also would extend the sales tax to many goods and services that have always been exempt — even including taxing certain food and clothing purchases and nonprescription drugs.
At the House Finance Committee last week, legislators from both parties, including Reps. Kathy Rapp, R-Forest, and Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne, expressed hesitation about how their constituents will react to the idea of a controversial shift in taxes. Previous proposals to radically change the state tax structure have failed.

Read more at: www.post-gazette.com

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