Talking School Property Taxes in Monroe County
By Brianna Strunk | bstrunk@pahomepage.com a WBRE/WYOU Reporter
Monroe County homeowners pay highest school property taxes in Pennsylvania
STROUD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) - Vincent Ricci of Stroud Township struggles to survive, thanks to high school property taxes.
"Well, school property taxes are destroying this community," Ricci adds.
Since moving to Monroe County in 2004, the retiree says his school property taxes have almost doubled to nearly $6,500 bucks a year.
Local elected officials understand Vincent is one of hundreds in this situation. A public meeting Thursday aimed to address property values and taxes.
State Representative David Parker says county homeowners are experiencing 'a property tax crisis', with abnormally high foreclosure rates.
"Our home values in Monroe County are about fifty percent less than what they were 8 years ago. And mortgage foreclosures are the highest in the state," explains State Representative David Parker, 115th District.
Parker says eliminating the school property tax or at least revising the tax formula would change that.
He adds, Monroe County schools need more state funding, not high local tax rates.
Parker explains, "any opportunity I can get to make Harrisburg aware of that, and work together with us to find solutions, I'm going to do."
Christine Wilkins is general manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. She says the market's getting better.
"We have been on a slow uptick in our property values. We have just come out of one of the worst recessions in all times," says Wilkins.
According to Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors, 2,000 homes are currently for sale in Monroe County. Only 166 of them were foreclosed.
But many residents say they're still struggling. Local elected officials hope to change that, one meeting at a time.
With the upcoming election, Representative Parker hopes new faces will help push the property tax elimination bill, which came to a tie vote in the Senate last year.
You can view the Story Video by Clicking Here.
Story and Photo from WBRE/WYOU
