Mar 5, 2016 2 min read

I have to take issue with a recent letter to the editor from state Rep. Brandon Neuman.

Neuman stated that Gov. Tom Corbett “reluctantly vetoed” a bill Neuman sponsored, with others, concerning property reassessment. In his veto notes on this bill, Corbett wrote, “By limiting a property tax moratorium to counties of the fourth class, with a population between 185,000 and 210,000 as of the 2010 United States Census, the bill has restricted its application to one county, Washington County.”

Corbett continued, “After consulting with legal counsel, including the Office of Attorney General, there is no question in my mind that the bill, as worded, would violate the state constitution.”

I would be embarrassed to have supported any bill that violates the state constitution in such a manner. Our state consists of not one, but 67 counties.

Pennsylvania appears to be operating in the dark ages compared to other states on property reassessment. The majority of other states seem to handle property assessments without controversy, routinely and effectively. If lawmakers in Harrisburg want to give this issue more than lip service, they need to stop fiddling and enact a uniform remedy that doesn’t require some citizens to carry more than their fair share of the property tax load or set up border wars between counties.

I am a senior citizen and, for years, candidates for statewide office have campaigned on fixing the property tax issue. All I’ve seen are increases to our property taxes.

If Neuman had bipartisan support, as he claimed, then I challenge him to see that a bill is introduced on the reassessment that falls within the parameters of our state constitution, that will pass and that the governor can sign into law.

Edna Ross

Washington