State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, invites residents of the 122nd District to a town hall meeting from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdayat the Diligent Fire Company No. 3, 330 Center Ave., Jim Thorpe. Topics to be discussed at the meeting include the property tax referendum which will be on the November ballot, the state budget and any other state-related issue.

"Property tax reform is the No. 1 issue facing many Carbon County residents, and I want to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the referendum and have their questions answered," Heffley said.A referendum on the November ballot will ask voters whether the homestead exclusion should be increased to 100 percent for primary residences. Currently, the state Constitution only permits local governments - counties, municipalities and school districts - to exclude up to 50 percent of the median assessed home value from a homeowner's tax bill.If the referendum is approved, the General Assembly would have to pass a law to implement the change, and local government officials would then be responsible for establishing exclusion amounts for homesteads within each district if they choose to do so. If those steps are completed, homeowners would only be responsible for paying taxes on the value of their homes that exceeds the exclusion amount chosen by their local governing body. Some could see the full value of their homes excluded from property taxes.Registration is not required. For additional information, call Heffley's Lehighton district office at 610-377-6363.