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Local Tax Policy

The Pennsylvania Chamber has long supported the concept of local tax reform and was not opposed to the constitutional amendment permitting a Homestead Exemption. As this issue continues to evolve, the Chamber believes that meaningful local tax reform legislation must include:

• Assessment reform that provides clear and consistent assessment standards; and
• Mandatory reassessment; and
• Elimination of local gross receipts tax.

The Chamber would not oppose state legislation to reduce local property taxes as long as it:

• Places reasonable limits on a local government's and school district's ability to raise taxes;
• Provides tax reductions that are proportionate to a property's assessed value;
• Treats business properties the same as other properties;
• Establishes no new state or local business taxes;
• Does not expand or increase any state or local business taxes; and
• Uses state bases and definitions for any taxes that will be authorized for local taxing authorities.

Approved by the Board of Directors on 6/8/07.