I feel compelled to respond to a recent Deerfield Valley News article about how Rep. John Moran “supported legislation aimed at protecting property taxpayers.” While there is nothing wrong with the rule change that Rep. Moran is heralding, we need to be realistic about the impact this change will have, and ensure that it doesn’t become another excuse for inaction on the real causes of escalating property taxes.
The change to the House Rules that Moran refers to is far from being a “major victory for property taxpayers.” Under acts 60/68, the statewide property tax is technically a state revenue source, and as such, has been subject to an existing house rule for years. This new rule change will have no effect on education property taxes. I would challenge Rep. Moran to show one example of a change to state law that impacted the education tax, without going through the House Ways and Means Committee. The rule change that Moran claims victory for only affects municipal property taxes.
The real problem is with the state education fund; the reality is that this rule change will do nothing new to protect property taxpayers from the ravages of Act 60. To suggest otherwise is simply disingenuous.
What will protect property taxpayers is meaningful action by legislators who are willing to stand up to their party leaders. Unfortunately, Rep. Moran has been a consistent and reliable supporter of his party and the powerful unions who continue to thwart any efforts to reform Act 60.
Consider the Democrat’s FY10 budget, which eliminated $18 million in general fund support for the education fund. Rep. Moran voted for this budget, and in doing so, set the stage for a projected two cent increase in the statewide property tax base rate this year. And yes, this was vetted through the House Ways and Means Committee, as required under the existing house rules. In his first few months in the Legislature, when given the opportunity to vote on a bill that addressed property tax reform, I saw Rep. Moran “take a walk” and stand in the hall in order to avoid voting against his party and against the union interests and therefore against the interests of his district.
My good friend, the late Rep. Rick Hube, supported a bill that would have required a fiscal impact analysis for any legislation affecting property taxes – municipal and education. This was modeled after a proposal that I had introduced, which would have assessed the fiscal impact of legislation on our economy (Moran voted against this). The change in House rules referenced by Rep. Moran is substantively different than the proposal supported by Rep. Hube (H293); to suggest that this rule change is something that Rick and Rep. Moran worked together on is a distortion. The truth of the matter is that nobody was more frustrated by Rep. Moran’s inaction on property tax reform than Rick Hube.
While it isn’t pleasant calling out a fellow member of the House I think it is imperative that voters are aware of the facts, particularly when they are so blatantly distorted.
Sincerely
Rep. Patti Komline
House Minority Leader
Dorset
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