DINNIMAN ANNOUNCES PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TOTALS

            WEST CHESTER, May 1 - State Senator Andy Dinniman announced today that Chester and Montgomery County homeowners in his legislative district would receive more than $22 million in tax relief from gaming proceeds this year.

            “It is good to see that our state gaming industry is beginning to provide some relief from the high property tax burden facing many hardworking Pennsylvania families,” Dinniman said. “In the years ahead, when some of the state’s bigger casinos come on line, there will be even greater tax relief.”

            Statewide, homeowners will see a total of nearly $613 million in property tax relief. The tax cuts, which are formula-driven, will go to homeowners who live in their homes and who have filed a Homestead Exclusion Form with their county assessment office.

            Dinniman said that average, estimated tax cuts by school districts in his legislative district include:

SCHOOL                              TOTAL RELIEF                 PER ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER

Coatesville Area                        $3.934 million                              $273      

Downingtown Area                    $3.792 million                              $209

Great Valley                             $1.024 million                              $125

Owen J Roberts                        $1.485 million                              $174

Phoenixville Area                      $1.366 million                              $163                 

Tredyffrin-Easttown                   $2.099 million                              $181

Unionville-Chaddsford                $1.488 million                              $233

West Chester Area                   $3.592 million                              $141

Spring Ford (Mont.)                   $2.283 million                              $207

Perkiomen Valley (Mont.)          $1.711 million                              $204

            The 10 school districts that comprise the 19^th Senatorial District are expected to receive a total of $22.778 million in relief. Depending on the school district, relief will range from an average of $141 to $233 per eligible taxpayer.

            In addition, Chester and Montgomery county residents who work in Philadelphia will see a 5 percent drop in the city wage tax rate next year.

           Special Session Act 1 of 2006 requires districts to subtract the tax relief money from homeowners’ real estate school tax bills. Districts must also provide itemized information on the tax cut when the tax bills go out. Each school district will determine the actual amount of property tax relief for each homestead and farmstead after it determines its 2008-2009 real estate tax rate.

 “This is a step in the right direction, but it is just one step in the long march ahead as we continue to work to cut property taxes in Pennsylvania,” Dinniman said.