Pa. Capitol rally presses to kill key school tax

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A couple hundred people turned out for a rally today at the Pennsylvania Capitol to support efforts to end school property taxes and replace the revenue with higher taxes on sales and income.

Supporters of the effort said rising property taxes make it difficult for people on fixed incomes to remain in their homes, even if their mortgage are paid off. They also say the system of assessment is ham-handed and outdated.

Previous such efforts died in the Legislature. The tax is the primary source of local revenue for schools districts, over $11 billion in 2011-12.

The rally organizer, the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, supports bills that aren’t scheduled for committee votes. The House Finance Committee, however, voted Monday to approve a similar bill.