An additional 4,593 seniors and low-income residents in the
four-county region stand to gain from the recently passed state
property tax bill, according to figures supplied by state Rep.
Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint.

All told, the measure – House Bill 39 – accounts for $2.35
million in additional rebates under the state’s Property Tax and
Rent Rebate Program, which more than doubles the income eligibility
limit for homeowners from a threshold of $15,000 to $35,000. By
doing so, it increases the number of seniors and others eligible
for the program statewide from 335,000 to 753,000.

The legislation also hikes the maximum rebate from $500 to $650
and homeowners whose property tax bill exceeds 15 percent of their
income would qualify for a maximum rebate of $975.

The bill – which easily passed both the Senate and House – is
currently waiting to be signed by Gov. Ed Rendell. The legislation
was approved in May by the Senate and last Thursday by the House in
a 137-61 vote.

In McKean County, there would be an estimated 1,997 new
claimants – a hike from 1,697 to 3,694 – under the bill, for a
$1.06 million hike in estimated rebates.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Cameron County, there are an estimated
240 new claimants, with an additional $123,700 in rebates – an
increase from 202 to 441 claimants; Elk County, 1,537 new claimants
and $763,300 in rebates – a hike of 1,080 to 2,617 claimants; and
Potter County, 819 new claimants, with $408,600 in rebates – an
increase of 502 to 1,320 claimants, according to the figures
provided in a House Conference Committee Report on the bill.

Also, Warren County would experience a 1,507 hike in claimants
from 1,198 to 2,705, while $771,800 in rebates would be handed out.
In Forest County, an additional 259 claimants would be eligible for
$120,300 in rebates – rising from 168 to 427 claimants.

On the local level, Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, along with
Reps. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and Dan Surra, D-Kersey, voted
in favor of the legislation, while Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren, voted
no, indicating the bill falls short of expectations. Scarnati,
Causer and Surra also believe more needs to be done to bring
significant property tax relief to the state’s citizens.

While seniors would benefit the most immediately following
Rendell’s signature, other residents across the region would also
receive tax cuts through gambling revenue; in 2007, the bill would
also allow voters in local school districts to reduce their
property taxes even further through referendums in 2007 and
2009.

In those referendums, voters would be asked if they want to
shift a portion of their remaining property taxes to local earned
income or personal income taxes.

According to figures provided in the report, residents in the
Bradford Area School District would receive an estimated $172 per
homestead if state gaming revenues allocations reached $400
million. If a referendum is approved, residents would garner an
additional $259 in tax cuts – the minimum amount per homestead
would be $431. The figures are based on an estimated earned income
tax rate (EIT) of .7 percent.

Elsewhere across the county, residents in the Kane Area School
District would gain an estimated $89 per homestead with gaming
revenues and an additional $142 with a referendum – for a total of
$231 in tax cuts. The EIT would be .4 percent.

In the Otto-Eldred School District, residents would receive $83
through the gaming revenue and an additional $119 in a referendum –
for a total tax cut of $203. The EIT would be .5 percent.

Residents of the Port Allegany School District would gain $110
through gambling money and $148 with the referendum – for a total
of $258 in tax cuts. The EIT would be .4 percent.

Lastly, in the Smethport Area School District, $101 would come
through gambling funds and $145 in a referendum – for a total tax
cut of $246. The EIT would be .4 percent.

Over in Potter County, residents of the Austin Area School
District would realize $227 in gambling revenue and $318 more
through a referendum – for a total tax cut of $545. The EIT would
be 1 percent. In the Coudersport Area School District, $109 would
come from gambling money, $249 from a referendum – for a total of
$358. The EIT would be .5 percent.

Residents in the Galeton Area School District would see $133 in
gaming funds and $264 through a referendum – for a total of $397.
The EIT would be .9 percent. In the Northern Potter School District
in Ulysses, $114 would come from gaming, $118 from a referendum –
for a total of $232. The EIT would be .5 percent. Lastly, in the
Oswayo Valley School District in Shinglehouse, $82 would be from
gaming revenue, $136 from a referendum – for a total of $217. The
EIT would be .6 percent.

Meanwhile, in Elk County, residents of the Johnsonburg Area
School District would derive $111 from gambling, $164 from a
referendum – for a total of $275. The EIT would be .4 percent.
Ridgway Area School District residents would receive $95 from
gaming, $206 from a referendum – for a total of $301. The EIT would
be .5 percent. Lastly, in the St. Marys Area School District, $35
would come from gaming, $186 from a referendum – for a total of
$221. The EIT would be .4 percent.

In the Cameron County School District in Emporium, residents
would gain $157 from gambling, $214 from a referendum – for a total
of $371. The EIT would be .6 percent.