HARRISBURG, PA — On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed House Bill 2536, a measure designed to extend property tax relief across the state through Longtime Owner-Occupant Programs (LOOPs). This legislative effort seeks to amend the state constitution, enabling all local taxing authorities to adopt LOOPs, a mechanism previously limited to Allegheny and Philadelphia counties.
The primary focus of LOOPs is to provide financial relief to homeowners who have resided in their homes for a decade or longer by exempting or deferring property tax increases. This is particularly crucial for seniors, who often face fixed incomes amidst escalating property values and taxes.
Expressing enthusiasm for the bill, state Representative Christina Sappey, D-Chester, the bill’s sponsor, remarked, “We’ve been hearing about the impact high property taxes have, particularly on our senior citizens, for decades. This legislation would provide local governments a way to help those who have lived in their homes over a decade and have felt the burden of rapidly rising property taxes the most.”
State Representative Jim Prokopiak, D-Bucks, highlighted the pressing nature of property taxes in Lower Bucks County, emphasizing the legislation’s potential to empower local governments to keep residents in their homes. “Rising property values and property taxes put a squeeze on many of our property owners, especially those on fixed incomes,” he noted.
Joining the support, state Representatives Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, and Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, co-prime sponsors of the bill, emphasized the necessity of supporting Pennsylvania’s seniors. O’Mara stated, “Homeowners deserve to stay in the place they’ve called home for most of their life, especially if they’re at a point now where they’re living on a fixed income.”
Ciresi added, “With the continued development and rising property values in our area, we’ve seen too many long-term residents, especially seniors on fixed incomes, struggle to stay in the homes where they raised their families and the communities in which they lived their lives.”
Currently, Philadelphia’s LOOP is managed by the city’s Department of Revenue and offers relief to homeowners experiencing significant assessment increases. Despite its success in Philadelphia, Allegheny County has yet to implement a similar program.
If House Bill 2536 is approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and subsequently by public referendum, it will empower the General Assembly to enact legislation permitting additional local taxing authorities to establish LOOPs.
The passage of this bill marks a significant step in property tax reform, aiming to address the financial challenges faced by long-term homeowners, particularly seniors, across Pennsylvania. Through this legislative framework, the state seeks to foster stability and security for its aging population, ensuring they can remain in their cherished homes and communities.
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