Published December 03. 2013 11:00PM
To the Editor:
The Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners is considering implementing a property tax for the first time in over a decade. I am opposed to it and we need residents to weigh in on this important decision. Our property tax rate has been zero since 2002. The proposal would increase it to one-third of a mill (0.33) real estate tax.
We need to have a long term sustainable, responsible solution to ensuring our financial stability as a community. In my opinion, a property tax is not the right solution. It is regressive, based on the value of your home, which you have little or no control of, and unrelated to your ability to pay. It also disproportionately impacts homeowners, especially seniors on fixed income.
As an alternative I am recommending in the short term we cut additional spending and borrow from our general fund reserve to plug the deficit. The longer term solution is investigating the merits of a Home Rule Charter which would provide us with greater flexibility and the option to explore an increase in the Earned Income Tax in the event we truly need additional revenue. I believe the EIT is a less regressive tax and importantly, does not disproportionately impact those who own homes.
Residents can share their opinion by completing an online form at www.lowermac.com or by attending our 7 p.m. Dec. 5 meeting.
Ryan T. Conrad
vice-president
Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners