PENNSBURG, August 5 — Jim Maza, candidate in Pennsylvania’s 24th State Senate district, unveiled his plan to “ax the property tax” and reform Pennsylvania’s system of funding public education.

“It’s time we put up or shut up,” said Maza. “The way we fund public education in Pennsylvania is insane and patently unfair. Both political parties are responsible for the current state of the system and it’s going to take honest, bi-partisan cooperation to fix it.”

“The goals of my plan are to slash property taxes in half and raise the state’s share of the costs of public education to 50 percent. I will not support any plan that does not accomplish these two goals.”

Maza’s “Ax The Tax” plan calls for legislation that will end the authority of school districts to levy property taxes effective July 1, 2004. Maza also called on the General Assembly to craft an alternative school funding system by July 1, 2003. The plan devised by the General Assembly would then be put to the voters in a referendum at the November 2003 General Election.

Maza stated his support for utilizing alternative sources of revenue such as slot machines at horseracing tracks and additional cigarette, liquor, hotel, and use taxes. Maza also cited Governor Ridge’s 1996 IMPACCT task force study that uncovered $1.52 billion per year in state government inefficiencies.

“Until we utilize alternative revenue sources like slots and squeeze every dollar we can from the state budget, I will not consider an increase in either the sales tax or the personal income tax.”

“When school begins in September, 1.8 million Pennsylvania children will begin taking tests. The test the Senate, House, and governor must pass when the Special Session begins is to ‘ax the property tax’ and fairly fund our public schools.”

“Property tax reform and fixing the school funding crisis is going to be hard work. Instead of empty talk and partisan bickering we need real solutions and real leadership. I intend to provide that as State Senator.”

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