These days, April Fools' isn't the only day you have to be on guard
for potential pranks. As we move through budget season in the state
legislature, don't be tricked by phrases like "holistic budget" or
"property tax relief."
In fact, under Gov. Tom Wolf's
proposed budget, the last thing middle-class, working families and small
businesses will feel is relief. What's really in Gov. Wolf's budget
plan for Pennsylvania? Billions in new taxes and borrowing to support
historic levels of government spending.
Last month, the
governor presented his ideal state spending plan, a $33.8 billion
budget that relies on major tax increases and increased borrowing. As
proposed, Gov. Wolf's budget would spend state taxpayer dollars at
unprecedented levels, and represents a 16 percent increase with $4.7
billion in new spending this year alone.
Just how much
does he want to spend? If Gov. Wolf's plan is enacted, the Commonwealth
will spend $92.6 million in state dollars every day. That equates to
$3.9 million per hour, over $64,307 per minute or $1,071 per second.
To
pay for this huge increase in government spending, Gov. Wolf is looking
to you, the taxpayer. His plan would raise the Personal Income Tax
(PIT) by 21 percent and increase and expand Sales and Use Tax revenues
by over 40 percent for more state spending. The result? An outrageous,
every-thing-in-the-kitchen-sink budget that is balanced on the backs of
hard-working, middle-class families and small businesses which account
for more than 95 percent of all employers in Pennsylvania.
In
addition to raising existing taxes, Gov. Wolf is also proposing to
effectively create 550 new taxes, many of which would negatively impact
our most vulnerable citizens. Products and services that were not taxed
before, like diapers, baby wipes, child care, personal hygiene products,
veterinarian services, non-prescription drugs, caskets and burial
vaults, home health care services and assisted living services, will now
be taxed at 6.6 percent.
What will Pennsylvanians get
in return? Gov. Wolf has promised his plan will provide much-needed
property tax relief, but will it? Not likely. The governor's plan would
raise $6.8 billion in taxes, but only put $3.7 billion toward property
tax relief. As proposed, taxpayers in more than 400 of the state's 500
school districts would pay more in personal income and sales taxes than
they would receive in property tax relief.
Additionally,
the governor's distribution of wealth plan disproportionally benefits
urban districts, which already receive the highest allocation of state
education funding.
Taxpayers can see how their school district fares under the governor's budget at
www.TaxpayersThatPay.com
Think
about it: It took this Commonwealth 200 years to reach a budget of $20
billion. Eight years under infamous spender, Gov. Rendell brought us to
$28 billion. Our new governor blows those numbers out of the water,
looking to spend an $8 billion more in the next two years alone. Just as
you struggle to live within your means to balance your household
budget, we as state government must also live in reality.
As
state representatives who promised to be good stewards of taxpayer
dollars, we cannot support a budget that raises billions of dollars in
new taxes but fails to address the state's well-known, impending pension
crisis or rein in government spending. With our economy finally on the
rebound, we need a budget that addresses government waste, fraud and
abuse, continues to grow our economy and, most importantly, protects
taxpayers.
This April Fools' Day, don't let a wolf
pull the wool over your eyes with promises of "jobs that pay, schools
that teach and government that works." The only guarantee that comes
with Gov. Wolf's spending plan is that taxpayers will certainly pay.
Rep.
Kerry Benninghoff is the Majority Policy Chairman, and Rep. Bryan
Cutler is the Majority Whip of the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives. Both are Republicans.Labels: Randy Bish Cartoon
RSS
