Smart Talk: PA businesses not optimistic; Property tax reform?
What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, April 28, 2014:
If there is an issue that most Pennsylvania homeowners could agree on, it is how much they dislike property taxes.
They see property taxes as unfair because the tax is not based on the ability to pay, but instead the value of one’s home and land.
For much of the past three decades legislators have talked about property tax reform or finding another tax that would generate the same amount of revenue for local school districts. So far, no one has come up with anything that would satisfy most people.
A hearing will be held this week on a bill to replace property taxes with income or sales taxes.
Kim Skumanick, President of the PA Association of Realtors, Chuck Liedike, Real Reform 76 Campaign Manager
The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors claim to represent homeowners in supporting the proposal. They appear on Monday’s Smart Talk.
Also, the health of the economy can often be measured by the opinions of small businesses. If that’s the case, Pennsylvania still faces some economic challenges.
According to the American Express OPEN 2014 Small Business Monitor, only 37% of Pennsylvania small businesses have a positive outlook of the economy over the next six months and only 25% say they plan to hire new employees.
Alice Bredin, an adviser to American Express OPEN joins us on Smart Talk to analyze the survey results.
