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Eliminating real estate taxes for school districts and local and county governments, as Scott Wagner says he would do as governor, means that a fairer tax would be needed to replace that lost local revenue.
An adjustable-rate graduated income tax, without deductions or exemptions and based on a taxpayer’s ability to pay, would serve that purpose for those governing bodies.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf would like to reduce that state’s corporate income tax, but replacing that lost state revenue wouldn’t be easy. Increasing the state’s sales tax hurts the poor and increasing the state’s personal income tax impacts unfairly on the middle class.
Not all corporations need tax relief, and a tax that could generate necessary state revenue and also give tax relief to deserving businesses is an adjustable-rate graduated corporate income tax.
Yes, both of these fairer taxes would require an amendment to the state Constitution.
David L. Faust
Selinsgrove