Dear Editor,

For more than 30 years, our state legislators have tried and failed to give real property tax reform to homeowners. It finally looks like Senate Bill 76 may provide the relief so many homeowners are looking for and we urge both legislators and tax payers to support this bill.The Carbon County Association of Realtors® (CCAR) and the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® (PAR) support Senate Bill 76 because it offers real reform. As defenders of homeownership and property rights, our associations are committed to real property tax reform. According to a study by the Anderson Economic Group and corroborated by the Independent Fiscal Office, Senate Bill 76 works.Throughout the Commonwealth, rising school property taxes have made it difficult for homeowners to pay their taxes. Senior homeowners are losing their homes or unable to sell them; younger homebuyers are pushed out of the market by extraordinarily high property taxes. It continues to make homeownership unattainable by doubling the monthly mortgage payment in many regions.Senate Bill 76 eliminates property taxes and replaces the funding with personal income and sales taxes while broadening the tax base. This lifts the burden of unreasonably high property taxes from only homeowners and fairly spreads responsibility across all segments of Pennsylvania citizens and visitors alike.Senate Bill 76 offers a fiscally responsible plan for property tax reform. I urge you to visit

www.RealReform76.com to learn more about Senate Bill 76.From there, you can contact your state Senator to urge him/her to support this bold vision for real property tax reform.Sincerely,Jim ZurnPresidentCarbon CountyAssociation of Realtors®