Tax-shift votes likely to divide communities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 27, 2007

Patriot News on the potential winners and losers tax-shift referendum vote on May 15. Read our Taxpayers’ Guide to the Rendell Property Tax Relief Act of 2006 for…

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The Act 1 farce

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 13, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the Act 1, the so-called property tax relief law. Also the Patriot News has coverage of districts joining with the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber…

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210 districts can raise taxes without votes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 5, 2007

Martha Raffaele of the AP reports that 210 school districts will be allowed to increase property taxesabove their index (which ranges from 3.4 to 5.5%, depending on the…

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Pike lease idea gets mileage in Legislature

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 4, 2007

Charlie Thompson writes in the Patriot News that legislators are starting to put some thought into the potential of a Turnpike lease. The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of…

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Underpaid Public Servants?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 2, 2007

Jan Murphy of the Patriot News provides an analysis of the highest paying jobs in state government. A total of 3,042 employees on the state payroll earn over $100,000…

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Exception turns into rule for property tax increases

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 29, 2007

So much for protecting property taxpayers. The Patriot-News looks at the numbe of districts applying for exemptions to Act 1. Turns out 210 of the 501 school districts have…

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Duquesne law professor under fire

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2007

Duquesne law professor Bruce Ledewitz (website) has been a harsh critic of the PA court system, including criticizing the Supreme Court ruling to reinstate their own pay-raise, and…

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Reformers Everywhere

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 27, 2007

Yesterday should illustrate how “reform” in Harrisburg has become more popular than the Beatles. First, the Senate State Government committee held a hearing on a possible state Constitutional Convention, at…

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You may need $1 more for turnpike

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 21, 2007

More coverage of the Turnpike’s “public-public” partnership plan in the Patriot News, with a brief mention of Matt Brouillette’s testimony to the Senate Transportation Committee. Also read Geoff…

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