Tax Code Changes - Coming to a School District and County Near You!

Given our Governor’s promise of not raising taxes, any bills developed by House and Senate committees in Pennsylvania are going to have to conform to this policy for as long as Corbett is in office.  Because of this ‘mandate,’ some ideas are surfacing in proposed tax-code bills that are gaining support that need to be examined by the public eye sooner than later.

One such bill is the proposed HB 1776, which would grant extended taxing authority to municipalities and school districts to help stop-gap budget shortfalls by the Commonwealth’s cuts in education and county-administered care funding.  These additional taxes could be an additional 1% sales tax, higher Earned Income Tax or hikes in the flat taxes charged.

This proposed bill will create a situation where residents in some school districts will be paying more regressive taxes than our most taxed states in the country.  An example would be someone who patronizes the shopping districts in Whitehall and South Whitehall, yet lives in Northern Lehigh or Northampton School districts.  These mentioned school districts would be forced to consider levying an earned income tax or raise a flat tax over an additional 1% sales tax due to a much smaller retail base.  These residents would then pay more taxes at home, and have to fork out an additional higher sales tax at nearby merchants.  Add to the fact that Pennsylvania charges the 6^th highest gasoline tax and 2^nd highest Diesel tax amounts in the nation, and if these local sales taxes are instituted, we are now looking more like California, or Connecticut.

Above all, I strongly feel that we will never see a reduction in property taxes, either.  Several companies and individuals earn their living on working with property taxes, and would fight to see them removed totally.

We have three very viable and growing potential income streams that can solve a lot of the issues of funding.  When partnered with a solid, smart spending plan, income from gaming, the lottery and Marcellus Shale gas can keep our budgets balanced.  Our legislators need to focus on a per-unit tax for all gas that leaves our state.  Our lottery needs to benefit more than just older Pennsylvanians.  South Carolina’s lottery is for education funding… why can’t Pennsylvania do the same?  And where is the gaming funding going?  We need to get those funds to districts to help alleviate property tax increases.

Local School Districts are Increasing Taxes! Blame who?

I have a very passionate stance on educational funding.  My sister is an art teacher that had to leave Pennsylvania because of increasing cuts to our education system.  With the latest rounds, now ALL BUT 2 of the school districts in the 183rd district are announcing tax increases up to 5% or serious budget gaps that need to be addressed.  The Republican Party-line vote is now RAISING YOUR TAXES.  Sure, they didn't directly increase taxes from Harrisburg.  They simply punted it off to your school districts to pass it along to you, like Pontius Pilate washed his hands of putting Christ on the cross.

Here is a breakdown of what property and business owners in each school district can expect to see starting later this year.

Parkland School District: 5% Tax Increase
Whitehall-Coplay District: 3.5% Increase
Northampton Area School District: "small increase expected" (Morning Call 1/24/2012)
Northern Lehigh School District: $327,000 gap directly from Corbett's cuts.
Catasauqua School District: Nothing Announced yet

See the break-down and further links on my website: http://bit.ly/wIcat5

New E-mail list

As petition time draws near, i wanted to let you all know that I have also developed an e-mail list where I will be sending corresponding messages to the campaign.  Please click on the link below to be redirected to a form to be added to the list!

http://votemattmiles.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=52beca15286d64ea074286cb7&id=90b37cd81a

Thank you!

I need your help! Please sign my petition for the Primary Ballot!

Hello!  My name is Matt Miles, a resident of Danielsville, PA and I am circulating petitions to be on the ballot on the Democratic Ticket for the 183rd District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.  State regulations require that I have a minimum of 300 registered Democrats that live in the 183rd District sign for me to be on the ballot. I have a goal of at least 450 signatures, in case some are challenged.

Petitions can be circulated January 24th through Feb 14, 2012.  You must be registered a Democrat to sign as well.

In order for this to happen, I first want to give you all of the information you need to know if you are eligible to sign for me, the dates you can sign and what I stand for to make sure I am the candidate who best represents you and your views of how the Commonwealth should best be run.

If you are a resident of Northampton County, and vote at the following areas:

Allen Township:               All areas
Lehigh Township:            All areas
Moore Township:            Klecknersville, Point Phillips*, Beersville*
North Catasauqua:          All areas
Northampton Borough:    All areas
Walnutport Borough:       All areas


* denotes redistricting lines split your precincts.  I am researching to ensure your signature will count, but please sign regardless.  

If you are a resident of Lehigh County, and vote at the following areas:


North Whitehall Township:     2nd District*, 4th District*
Slatington Borough:                All Areas
South Whitehall Township:    1st District, 6th District, 8th District
Washington Township:           Eastern District,Western District, Southern District

* denotes redistricting lines split your precincts.  I am researching to ensure your signature will count, but please sign regardless.

Here is a high-level map taken from Pennsylvania's Redistricting site.  It is based on a Google Maps snapshot in January of 2012.  Please Review Google's Terms of use.  Clicking on the image will take you to a larger image of the map.  I have a link below to take you to the 183rd District maps available at the redistricting interactive map site.  This map is not official law as of Jan 14, 2012.

http://www.redistricting.state.pa.us/Maps/MapWindow.cfm?MapMode=FullScreen&Chamber=H&DefaultDistrictID=183&DefaultOverlayType=District&DefaultBoundaries=2011-Final

Please e-mail me if you are interested in signing the petition, and I will be sure to get to you to sign at your convenience.  Thank you!