LETTER: Commissioner Says Property Tax Not 'Right Solution' for Lower Mac's Financial Future

To the Editor: 

While residents are busy planning to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families, the Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners is considering implementing a property tax for the first time in over a decade. At Thursday’s meeting, I once again expressed my opposition to it.  Our property tax rate has been zero since 2002. The proposal on the table would increase it to one-third of a mill (0.33) real estate tax.

We need to have a long term sustainable, responsible solution to ensuring our financial stability as a community. In my opinion, a property tax is not the right solution. It is regressive - based on the value of your home, which you have little or no control of, and unrelated to your ability to pay. It also disproportionately impacts homeowners, especially seniors on fixed income.

The decision to reintroduce a property tax for the first time in twelve years is a big one and requires deep exploration of alternative solutions.  This year, voters chose two new Commissioners to be a part of the Board for the next four years.  The new Commissioners ought to be a part of helping find this solution since the potential tax will be implemented under their watch.

As an alternative to implementing a property tax, I am recommending a short term approach to deal with the $1.046M deficit so we can explore a long-term, sustainable, and fair solution.

The short term solution is a combination of cutting additional spending and also borrowing from our general fund reserve to plug the deficit. The longer term solution is to investigate the merits of a Home Rule Charter which would provide us with greater flexibility in determining our own future and what is best for the Township.

A Home Rule Charter would give us the option to explore an increase in the Earned Income Tax (EIT), which I believe is a fairer tax in the event we truly need additional revenue.  It is less regressive and importantly, does not disproportionately impact those who own homes.

There are three important steps you can take to stop a property tax increase in Lower Macungie:

1. Email: Share your opinion with the Board of Commissioners using this online form.

2. Attend:  Come to the Board meeting on Thursday, December 5 at 7PM.  The budget is expected to be voted on at that meeting.  We meet at the LMT Municipal Building (3400 Brookside Rd).

3. Share: Spread the word to your friends and family who live in Lower Macungie. Residents need to be aware of what is being considered and the implications so they have an opportunity to voice their opinions.

Ryan Conrad, is vice president of the Lower Macungie Board of Commissioners.