Vote ‘no’ on an amendment that would hurt communities

A proposed change to the Pennsylvania Constitution, amending the homestead property assessment exclusion, is on the November ballot. This amendment can exempt 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property, a change from the current one-half of the median assessed value.

I called my local councilman, my local school board, my representative and my senator or their offices to learn more. No one I spoke with knew this was on the ballot (as I write this, neither my representative nor anyone from his office has responded), nor did anyone know how the taxes would be made up or shifted.

This amendment by itself doesnot remove 100 percent of the assessed value. The General Assembly would need to pass a law and then the local entities could take that action. This is a bad amendment. This would hurt our communities by withdrawing money for schools and communities, which actually lowers propertyvalues.

Who are the losers and winners? I assume the younger and/or poorer are the losers as they work and may not own property. The lost revenue most likely would be made up by earned income taxes or sales taxes. Retirees would be less affected because pensions and Social Security are not taxed in Pennsylvania, and they would enjoy lower property taxes.

Vote NO on this amendment, which does not help our communities or our schools and most likely will shift taxes to the younger, employed population. ROSE MARY HIGHMAN

McCandless