URGENT! Call-To-Action: Vote
NO on RTT
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is
currently examining options to fund the
Commonwealth's ailing mass transit systems. One
prospective option is to increase the statewide
realty transfer tax (RTT) from 1.0% to 1.9%, with
the additional 0.9% dedicated to mass transit
funding. Another option is to give county
governments the authority to increase the local
RTT and dedicate the additional percentage to mass
transit.
Last night, the House
Transportation Committee passed House Bill 1590.
This is the vehicle for the menu of local options
to include creating a county RTT to fund mass
transit. A vote on the House Floor could happen as
early as tomorrow. It is imperative that you TAKE
ACTION NOW!
Contact your Representative
and tell them to vote NO to any
provision that includes RTT as a state or local
funding option. A county RTT is a NEW TAX on the
citizens of Pennsylvania.
PAR and SRA believe that the RTT makes housing
less affordable for everyone, from first-time
homebuyers struggling to put together a down
payment to senior citizens having to give up a
portion of their equity to taxes when they
downsize to a smaller home.
In addition, we believe that RTT is poor public
policy, especially when used as a tool to fund
mass transit. Quite simply, there is no
relationship between mass transit and real estate
transactions. Homebuyers and sellers should not
have to carry the burden of funding mass
transit.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
