Dems: Support Rendell's plan for Pennsylvania

FARRELL, Pa. -- Some local Democrat elected officials are asking for public support for Democrat Gov. Ed Rendell's "Plan for a New Pennsylvania" which they say will generate nearly $12 million in new revenue for Mercer County schools.
It is also expected to generate more money for local municipalities to use for development projects, said Mayor William Morocco.
Supporters of the plan will gather in city council chambers at 3 p.m. today to ask voters to contact their legislators and ask them to support it as well, Morocco said.
Rendell's plan calls for less reliance on local property taxes and a 34-percent increase in the state personal income tax. It also requires legalizing slot machines at Pennsylvania's horse racing tracks.
The new revenue from the income tax and slot machines would provide a total of $1.5 billion for school districts across their state so they can reduce their property taxes by an average of 30 percent.
Morocco provided information from Rendell's office showing that Mercer County homeowners would get a total of $9.8 million in school property tax relief but their personal income taxes would rise by $16.1 million with $10.5 million of that going to schools to cover property tax relief and $5.6 million going to local municipalities for development programs.
Further, the county's 12 school districts would receive $11.8 million in additional state support Morocco said.