School District Property Tax Reduction Allocations Now Available

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis today announced the allocation of $612.1 million in state funds to school districts for property tax relief. School districts will receive the funds in two equal installments in August and October, but homeowners should see a reduction in their property tax bills this summer.

The 2004 Gaming Act established the Property Tax Relief Fund, which provides funding to school districts to be used to reduce property taxes. The fund was created as a way to channel revenue generated through gaming back into the hands of taxpayers.

"In Pennsylvania, we are all financially responsible for educating our youth and in difficult economic times, the burden of high property taxes can be overwhelming," Tomalis said. "The Property Tax Relief Fund will save some homeowners hundreds in property taxes -- a savings everyone could use these days."

In April, Pennsylvania's Budget Secretary Charles Zogby certified the amount that would be available for school districts from the Property Tax Relief Reserve Fund.

The task of dividing up the $612.1 million among the state's school districts was handled by the Department of Education, which estimates that the average homeowner will see a $200 reduction in their property taxes this year.

For more information, visit www.education.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Tim Eller, 717-783-9802

Editor's Note: A list of the allocations by school district and the projected property tax savings per household can be found by visiting www.education.state.pa.us and locating "2011-2012 School District Property Tax Allocations Now Available" under the "Important Updates" section. The allocations are organized by county and from there are broken down into school districts.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education