*2008 Cycle 2 – 130th - Republican
Richard L. Gokey:
Total Contributions - $11,585.00
Contributions from Political Action Committees - $2,350.00
BAIPAC - $350.00
KOZLOFF STOUDT - $1,000.00
HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF BERKS - $500.00
FULTON BANK - $500.00
Property Tax Elimination Act HB 1275: Does not support. Wants an earned income tax to eliminate taxes.
* Votes :1977
Mr. Gokey had the endorsements of Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Home Builders Association of Berks County.
Aaron Durso:
Total Contributions - $350.00
Contributions from Political Action Committees -$0.00
Property Tax Elimination Act HB 1275: Supports HB1275
*Votes: 1811.
Billy A. Reed:
Total Contributions - $948.20
Contributions from Political Action Committees -$0.00
Property Tax Elimination Act HB 1275: Supports property tax elimination.
Votes: 820
Business and services oppose House Bill 1275, the Property Tax Elimination Act.
Homeowners want property tax reform, not more promises and not more taxes.
*Sources:
Pennsylvania Campaign Finance Reporting
Berks County Election Services Un-official election results.
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50 comments:
Al:
What is the definition of earned income?
I've heard this may include retirment monies. Is this true?
What more does this state want from it's taxpayers?
It looks like the taxpayers are in real trouble this time.
In the mind of a politician, who knows, but it generally refers to salaries and wages.
A personal income tax is more encompassing and consists of salaries, wages, profits, interest, dividends, etc.
It is rather ironic that people in Oley voted for Mr. Gokey in light of the fact they resoundingly defeated Act 50 which had a local earned income tax.
The difference between Mr. Gokey's earned income preference is that Act 50 had controls, his does not at this point.
Note. I have been informed that some people are experiencing posting difficulties on the blog.
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The voters in this district deserve every stupid politician they get. Kessler forgot all about his support for property tax elimination once his Democrat bosses got hold of him, and Gokey got elected to go to the general election and nobody knew a thing about him - he does not support eliminating property taxes. Either way tax payers get the shaft. I bet Dennis Leh is just laughing at these goof balls and glad to be out of this mess.
Property taxes will be going up this year.
How will you pay?
How will you pay for gas and food with electric to follow?
I say we should not pay our property taxes this year! Since the school district always chooses to proceed with careless spending, they should not be given any more money to gamble with.
Besides, they have plenty in their coffers.
When citizens do not pay attention to their government, they will be taken for a ride.
If you think you're being ignored by your school board and elected officials, try NOT paying your school taxes. The attention you get will be different than the 3 minute rule.It will be the NO minute rule. Pay or leave.
Florida just passed their state budget. To make up for shortfall, legislators agreed to take a 5% pay cut.
In November, they will put on the ballot a referendum to cut property taxes by 25% in return for raising sales taxes by 1%.
Pennsylvania legislators are more interested in political gamesmanship to maintain their power rather than property tax reform. Homeowners are considered invisible or a nuisance in Harrisburg.
To break this cycle of indifference,a litmus test for candidates running for office would be the question " Do you support HB 1275, Property Tax Elimination?".
If they do not they do not deserve your vote.
First we need to get the pay raise back from O'Pake.
He said he'd repay it, but just not all at once.
Big of him.
Hello out there! Is this blog dead, or what?
Looks like it.
Seems to be becoming the norm in Oley.
Leave it up to the school board.
All is well?
Lets see how the taxpayers are faring in a couple of months.
Guess they will be content with Gokey.
Didn't vote - you don't get to complain.
Rally:
A rally is being organized at the Capitol to urge legislators to support legislation to eliminate school property taxes and replace the necessary revenue with a broadening of the sales tax base (food, clothing and health-care expenditures will not be subject to the expanded sales tax).
The rally will be on Monday, June 2, 2008 from 11:00 am to noon in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.
This event is VERY IMPORTANT to reform efforts as many legislators will not vote for such legislation unless they are pushed by enough of their constituents.
Pass the word to your friends and neighbors.
If you and/or your friends can arrange to attend this function, please call or E-Mail:
Dave Baldinger, Administrator of the Pennsylvania Taxpayers' Cyber Coalition, at 610.777.8876, or pataxpayers@gmail.com.
Candidate:
Stephen P. Fuhs is a candidate for Pennsylvania 11th District Senate seat. He will face Senator Michael O’Pake.
Mr. Fuhs supports House Bill 1275, the Property Tax Elimination Act.
Copy the the link to your browser and read where he stands on issues that affect Pennsylvanians.
http://fuhsforpa.homestead.com/index.html
We need legislators in Harrisburg who understand the hardship that local taxation places on homeowners.
Poll:
There is a poll on this website www.pahomepage.com asking whether you agree with or oppose a bill that is being considered to give COLA to retired state employees (this would include school employees). It would be great if everyone could go on there and vote.
The fact is that any tax shift for School Property Taxes that involves a shift to sales tax will not survive. The original Commonwealth Caucus plan would have worked and I supported it then and would support it again.
The problem is that every interest group that puts their "two cents" in, pushes for an exemption of their particular product/service. When the exemption lists are finally added up, the shift to a sales tax never works.
You also have a lot of people who view the shift to a sales tax as inequitable because it unfairly taxes the working poor. You have a lot of people who criticize the idea of an increase in the State income tax as "punshing the hard working."
The elimination of the property tax for funding schools has to happen because that TRULY punishes you for owning your land and is inequitable.
The REALITY is that to eliminate that tax requires a SHIFT to another funding mechanism to replace the income that schools need to educate our children.
Show me a plan that is equitable, replaces or exceeds the income from the property tax, doesn't rely solely on gambling, and doesn't get peppered by everyone's exemptions and I'll support it.
So far, everyone's bright ideas have not done that.
God Bless Dennis Leh for sticking to his guns on the Commonwealth Caucus plan and trying to prevent the "swiss-cheesed" exemption list, but when the Committees got done with it there wasn't much left of their original plan.
"Show me a plan that is equitable, replaces or exceeds the income from the property tax, doesn't rely solely on gambling, and doesn't get peppered by everyone's exemptions and I'll support it."
You are describing House Bill 1275. Look at PTCC website and it explains. Blog has link.
According to the newspaper this morning we taxpayers in Oley will see an average reduction of $167.00in our real estate taxes.
How much has the board raised taxes over the past five years and how much will they go up in the next five? Folks, this is a shell game Rendell is playing with us and we are suckers for allowing him and the legislature to get away with it.
Sure, some of you will say "well, it's better than nothing". I don't want "better than nothing" I want COMPLETE elimination of the property tax and not some scheme concocted in Harrisburg that in the long run accomplishes nothing.
RS
For 15+ years, board members have come and gone, but each of the 'boards' have raised spending, and taxes.
Now the rumor has it that they plan to waste an additional 1/4 million for lights around the track. Why? Nite-time javelin sounds dangerous.
Can someone tell me if they passed the lights. If not, has anyone contacted the board members to express their feelings.
New Roof - $1+ million?
Amthor Steel Settlement - $1.4 million?
Increased fuel costs - ????
High School Gym Project - ???
High School Ag Addition - $700,000+
Education - $0
Lights for the field - Should not happen.
Knock-Knock.
ANYONE HOME?
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET THE MONEY??????????
The "Lights" project has not officially passed - yet.
Four board members voted at the last meeting to not accept the low bid that came in. In effect, they were voting against the lights.
Four board members voted to accept the bid. Dr.Cappa was not at that meeting and who knows how he will vote when the vote comes up to proceed with the lights or not at the next meeting. If you really don't want to see $275,000 of tax payer money spent on lights, go to the next meeting May 14th, or call your board members an tell them how you feel.
The lights project was not tabled because of the price - the project was tabled because someone wants the field named after them, and they will be donating SOME money to the lights project.
Where was this person when the track and field project was financed?
If they want the field named after them, they should have paid for the track and field project. Not just SOME money for the lights.
Then we could have used the $1.4 million from Nextel for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES!
The person desiring the athletic field being named after them must have an ENORMOUS ego.
Is everyone aware that our legislators do not pay for their own gas to travel back and forth to Harrisburg and other business? The bills are submitted for reimbursement and paid by us the taxpayers. So we aren't only paying for our own gas but also for our politicians. Isn't it time for them to pay their own?
Hello 9:34
How do you know it is a person?Maybe it is a company that wants naming rights and doesn't have a big ego, just an enormous amount of cash. Hey for the right price they can have naming rights to my house and my dog.
There was a big discussion on WEEU about HB1275, Property Tax Elimination. The vast majority of callers supported the bill
POLITICIANS...DO YOU HEAR US NOW!!
The article in today's Reading Eagle clearly illustrates the unmitigated greed and indifference a school district has towards its community.
Finding a loophole in the state law that prevents spot assessment to raise taxes, the Kutztown School District decides to appeal a farmer's assessment to gouge an additional $19,500 of taxes from him.
Guess what, he has to sell his property.
Does the district show any concern for his travesty. Absolutely none, just the opposite.
The superintendent says School districts are responsible to taxpayers,”. This must be a joke, because school districts have imposed millions of additional taxes on property owners and yet still have poor educational performance.
She goes on to declare,“We must assure taxpayers that we are not overlooking tax revenues that are legal." Putting lipstick on the pig of trampling on a homeowner smacks of elitism at its worst.
I wonder if she would be so casual about the plight of others if she lost her job due to a law allowing for a county wide school system.
Unfortunately, she says publicly what many tax and spending districts think privately about taxpayers.
AT 4:49 PM on May 01, 2008 Anonymous said:
"You are describing House Bill 1275. Look at PTCC website and it explains. Blog has link."
HB 1275 doesn't cover the nut. Plus it's already dead from special interest exemptions. The more holes you cut in a tax shift, the less water it holds. I KNOW the voters THINK that HB 1275 will eliminate their real estate school property tax, but it won't. I'm willing to bet that the majority of them haven't read the bill, only the spin of the so-called "executive summaries."
This bill attempts to accomplish the shift by using a combination of EIT, PIT, sales taxes, license fees, real estate transfer taxes, local SD PIT/EIT (by referendum), hotel occupancy taxes and other income sources. The list of special interest groups that will weigh in on this bill during hearings is longer than the proposed revenue sources.
The PTCC website inaccurately promotes the so-called benefits of the bill, such as the elimination local SD nuisance taxes. School districts still have the power, although by referendum it's more difficult, to have these taxes.
Here's a link to the full text of HB1275.
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1275&pn=2835
Get some coffee and read the WHOLE thing to get the WHOLE picture.
Don't get me wrong, I am VERY proud of Sam Rorher for continuing to fight the fight. He is to be commended for continuing the fight even though he's taken a real beating from leadership. That kind of pressure can make a fella "punch drunk."
And if you DO read the bill, you'd see that all of our regional legislators have co-sponsored it (on both sides of the aisle, many of whom don't get on-board to bi-partisan co-sponsorships unless they are safe) except Rep. Kessler. But the reality is, it's not likely to get out of appropriations without significant changes. By the time it reaches the floor, if it reaches the floor, it won't be passable or won't do the WHOLE job of eliminating the school property tax. And if it's dead, that's probably when you'll see Kessler sign on.
Here's that link to HB1275 full text:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/
CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?
txtType=PDF&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0
&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1275
&pn=2835
Copy and past it into your address line in your browser and eliminate any spaces or returns.
The KEY to property tax elimination is to take the POWER OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AWAY, TAKE THE POWER OF THE UNIONS AWAY, AND START CONSIDERING WHAT SHOULD COME FIRST WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION!
Incidentally, part of that equation is actually to put education above all other DESIRES, even if that includes taming the OUT OF CONTROL SPORTS' ISSUES!
Budget & Finance Meeting
The attending board members and the administration worked on the 2008-2009 budget.
They arrived at a tentative figure of a .32 mill tax increase.
There is a belief by new board members that the district could have a no-tax increase budget.
They sight the substantial general fund balance and capital reserve as sources to tap without harming school finances.
They also think the taxpayers need a break in light of the rising fuel and food prices coupled with a slow economy.
If the board does approve a no-tax increase budget it will be first one since 1998.
Homeowners need relief not promises from Harrisburg.
Contact your board member about your concerns.
When is the next B&F Committee meeting? When do they vote on the preminiary budget? Even a .32 mil increase is alot better than what I am reading other boards are raising taxes. It would be very easy for the board to go from .32mil increase to zero for this year. Whether they do or not really rests with Mr. Heckman and Mr. Richard. I urge every board member to vote for no tax increase this year.
RS
Is this correct:
.32 mills increase = a $32 increase on a property assessed at $100,000.
If the inflation in Berks county is approximately 3+%, does that raise taxes at a rate that is higher or lower than the inflation rate?
Does that increase include the rendell gambling money we are supposedly getting, according to the paper a few weeks ago?
It is previously stated that taxes have gone up every year since1998. Is there a list of the annual mill increase in each of those years, and how is comparison?
“When is the next B&F Committee meeting? “
Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 6:00 PM at the Administration Building.
“When do they vote on the preliminary budget?”
Probably at the May 14, 2008 meeting.
“Is this correct:
.32 mills increase = a $32 increase on a property assessed at $100,000.”
The .32 would be added to the 23.42 millage totaling 23.74 in millage.
A property assessed $100,000 would be paying $2374.00 in taxes.
“If the inflation in Berks county is approximately 3+%, does that raise taxes at a rate that is higher or lower than the inflation rate?
The tax increase would be below the state allowed inflation index for school districts.”
“Does that increase include the rendell gambling money we are supposedly getting, according to the paper a few weeks ago?”
No it does not. The business manger estimated that homes valued at $330,000 is the break even point. Those below that figure would see a net savings. Those above that figure would be paying more. This was only an estimation.
“It is previously stated that taxes have gone up every year since1998. Is there a list of the annual mill increase in each of those years, and how is comparison?”
1998 – 13.59 mills
1999 – 14.08 mills
2000 – 14.93 mills
2001 – 16.67 mills
2002 – 18.69 mills
2003 – 19.68 mills
2004 – 20.75 mills
2005 – 21.50 mills
2006 – 22.50 mills
2007 – 23.42 mills
I appreciate the efforts I am hearing about from the newest school board members who are working for a zero tax increase this year. I have not been to any meetings this year but I will be going to show my support. I also do not agree with a plan to add lights to the athletic field. Last price I was told was over a quarter million dollars. Did anyone ever calculate how much that will cost per game over 10years? Lets say 18 night games (hockey & soccor) per year x 10 years = 180 games into $250,000 = $1,388.00 per game. Nope, that does not sound like a good use of money.
RS said "It would be very easy for the board to go from .32mil increase to zero for this year. Whether they do or not really rests with Mr. Heckman and Mr. Richard. I urge every board member to vote for no tax increase this year.
RS
8:55 AM, May 08, 2008"
What magical powers do Heckman & Richards hold? There are 3 fresh opinions on the board that seem to think independently of the status quo + Mr. Maloney + who knows = 5 votes for no tax increase. Lets hope and pray they stand firm and vote for no tax increase.
You're exactly right. There might be four votes against an increase but you need five to pass the budget. Where is that other vote coming from? Cappa, McCarthy, Heckman, Richard? There's nothing "magical" about it. I made the comment because Heckman and Richard are both senior members and in leadership positions. If they sign off on a no tax increase budget then it's a done deal. They are the two members who need to be persuaded to vote against any tax increase.
"Let's hope and pray they stand firm and vote for no tax increase"
I'll second that!
To RS -
You should come to the next board meeting and the meeting where final budget will be voted on to share your hope for a no tax increase budget. As a veteran school board member, your testimony may have some impact on the old guard who want to increase taxes. It could also support those board members who want no tax increase.
Prediction for the tax increase or no tax increase:
Heckman - tax increase
McCarthy - tax increase
Cappa - tax increase
Richard - tax increase
Hannum - tax increase
Maloney - no tax increase
Kubitz - no tax increase
Bieber - no tax increase
Burns - no tax increase
Hannum was not at the meeting the other night. Neither was Heckman.
Hannum would be the swing vote, and since he didn't vote for Burns for school board president, he will also vote for the tax increase. He wants to see more projects in this district, regardless of who pays for them.
The majority on this current school board set up the tax increase for this year by allowing all the Nextel money $1.4 million to go towards the track project.
As was stated at the meeting the other night, there were quite a few projects on the list for the past number of years. The AG project was a priority, the gym project was a priority, the track project needed to be done, just not to the tune of $1.4 million.
The AG project is an educational project. Why did the track proceed over the AG project?
Simple anwwer: they could not raise taxes for the track project, but they can for educational items.
Our prior school board has set this district up over the last ten years, with much of the politics done behind the scenes by Zackon and Heckman.
Unforttunately I will be in Virginia Wednesday and unable to attend. However, whether they want to admit it or not every board member plus the superintendent keeps up with this blog and the comments posted. They know where I stand and, I hope they do the right thing. Is no tax increase once every ten years too much to ask?
To 10:23am:
As I see it your assessment of the vote breakdown is accurate. I hope one of those tax increase voters will surprise us and vote the other way. The question is, which one has the courage?
RS
None do, except the four mentioned.
Perhaps they want to see their name in the front of School District first.
Board Meeting 5/14/2008
The meeting was a combination of the presentation of the 2008-2009 budget as well as the board approving various motions concerning district matters.
They approved a preliminary budget raising millage to 23.74 mills. Factoring the gambling proceeds from the state, the homeowner would see a rebate of $167.82. Homesteads assessed at less than $524,450 would see a net savings on taxes.
The meeting turned heated when there was a motion to approve spending $249,850 track lights. Instead of voting on the issue, the motion was tabled so that allegedly final numbers could be determined on naming rights for the field.
Board member Steve Burns, however, wanted to have a discussion on the lights. He handed out a letter sent by a district coach to various families urging them to attend the next board meeting to pressure them to approve spending more tax dollars on lighting.
Instead of having a postage stamp on the letter, it had the district postage indicia. According to Superintendent Zackon only administrators are authorized to use the postage machine. The coach is not an administrator.
According to coach’s comments in the letter, he mailed previous correspondence to parents.
A number of board members felt this letter was ambushing them especially since it was done with district equipment and funds. They spent many hours working on the budget and to have a coach subvert their efforts was counterproductive.
The Superintendent promised to have some answers for the board.
Had the coach bothered to attend budget meetings, he would have been more informed on the more urgent needs of the district.
Repairing the elementary school roof, construction of an ag tech classroom, repair and refurbishment of the high school gym, purchase of computers, laptops,printers, routers for the classrooms, just for starters.
A good article in this morning's Reading Eagle covering the Oley School Board meeting. However, if you read this blog you got the coverage a day earlier and in alot more detail than what was reported in the paper.
Thanks, Al.
The paper says the coach declines to answer any questions because his own actions created a political issue? He has a lot of explaining to do to his team and the community. He put Oley under a dark cloud.
I think the writing of the letter was was suggested by the same back door politics that always happen in this school district.
Zackon wants the lights and he will stop at nothing to get his way.
The coach never attended any board meetings, but according to Zackon he attended the PRIVATE meetings.
Zackon is supposed to maintain a neutral position in these kinds of proceedings, however, he always is the one to lead the march.
This is indicative of the poor leadership that this district has had under the reign of Dr. Zackon, and it's high time that he wake up and smell the coffee.
Hopefully this is his last stint at superintendenship.
The unauthorized use of a postage meter can be a crime. It is not any different than someone tapping into a utility line for free service.
What PRIVATE meetings?
The private track committee meetings.
The new board is being shackled with old board "baggage" and mess. A new broom should start cleaning at the top.
The lights are not a bright idea.
Pennsylvania is one of the states that set educational standards so low that now they must improve dramatically to reach NCLB standards. Otherwise, teachers and principals face pink slips.
Pennsylvania teachers are the fourth highest paid in the nation, but the SAT scores rank near the bottom.
Once again, the argument that money will solve the ills of education fails the test of reality.
Hey don't forget to come to the board meeting Wednesday. Looks like they will finally vote on the track/field lights. If you don't want a Quarter Million Dollars $$$ spent on Zackon's project come and let your feelings be known. They track kids will be there. Right coach Simpson?
Hey RS, Come to the meeting Wednesday and convince the spenders to show some restraint!
"They track kids will be there. Right coach Simpson?"
Coach Simpson refused to answer questions from the press because the issue became "political". If he shows up at the board meeting demanding more tax dollars to be spent on lights, does that mean he has become a politician ?
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