Business groups, taxpayer organizations, lawmakers and educators gathered in Harrisburg Tuesday for a roundtable discussion on the need for property tax reform.

The bipartisan effort was organized by the Senate Majority the Democratic policy committees. Participants included David Baldinger of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayer Associations; Kimberly Skumanick, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors; Jason Horwitz, consultant for the Anderson Economic Group; Christine Young Gertz, Esq., government affairs director for the Pennsylvania Apartment Association; Joel Rotz, director of state governmental relations for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; Sharon Ward, executive director of the Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center; Warren Hudak of the National Federation of Independent Business; Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry; John Callahan, senior director of government affairs for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association; Deborah L. Musselman, director of government affairs for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association; and Jason Skrinak of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs."It's not a Democratic issue; it's not a Republican issue. There is plenty of common ground on property tax reform," said state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18, who is the Democratic Policy Committee chairwoman. "Nearly everyone agrees that Pennsylvania's property tax system is outdated and unfair. The only real debate is over how to devise a more equitable system."Senate Majority Policy Committee Chairman Ted Erickson, R-26, said that "tackling the outdated property tax system in Pennsylvania is an undertaking that requires broad cooperation. The calls for change come from every corner of our Commonwealth, and the bipartisan participation today is a key step in the process to make reform a reality."The discussion focused on SB 76, which would replace property taxes with increases in personal income and sales taxes. The legislation, proposed by state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, currently has 26 sponsors. they include Sen. John Yudichak, D-14; Boscola; Patrick M. Browne, R-16; and Erikson."The bipartisan roundtable discussion focusing on Senate Bill 76 highlights the broad consensus that property taxes continue to cripple homeowners across the Commonwealth," Argall said. "I remain committed, as do many of my colleagues, to eliminate this unfair and archaic tax as we continue to build momentum heading into the New Year. The roundtable was crucial to hear why we need move away from the current system."SB 76 would raise the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent (an increase of about 16 percent), and the personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 4.34 percent (an increase of about 41 percent).The bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee.