Wolf seeks billions in higher taxes for schools, tax revamp

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf is asking Pennsylvania lawmakers to approve $4 billion in higher taxes and new taxes to help boost school aid and shift education funding away from local property taxes.

In an address to a joint session of the Legislature Tuesday morning, the new governor is proposing raising the sales tax for the first time in nearly 50 years, to 6.6 percent from the current 6 percent.

Overall, the Democrat wants to increase state spending from $29 billion to $33.7 billion — an increase of 16 percent.

The governor says the proposed tax hikes and a simultaneous cut in property taxes would reduce the tax burden on the average middle-class homeowner by 13 percent.

Wolf says his plan draws from both Democratic and Republican party ideas. Above all, he says, it recognizes that Pennsylvania will not improve until we rebuild the middle class.”