Pottstown School Board considers how to provide tax relief, and to whom

Update 6/16/2023:   The school board voted unanimously on June 15 to simply divide the $740,000 among all 8,431 property owners.  Each property owner in the borough will receive an $88 reduction on their tax bill as a rebate. Read the Pottstown Mercury article here.

Original post continues below.

Pottstown School District wants to use $740,000 in surplus funds for tax relief, but the school board is split on the questions of how to do so and who should benefit. Among the options discussed so far:

1. Boosting the existing Homestead Exemption 
   ?Homeowners already benefiting from the exemption would enjoy an additional $203.
   ?But more than half the town (renters) get no tax relief at all.
   
   
2. Lowering the millage rate for all property owners
   ?Gives tax breaks to people who own property in the borough, including nonresident landlords and commercial property owners
   ?Can create a deficit for the next budget year
   ?Doesn't benefit renters
   
   
3. Cutting or removing the earned income tax (EIT) 
   ?Property owners and renters both benefit from income tax relief.
   ?Senior citizens whose retirement income isn't subject to the EIT don't benefit.

The school board is expected to to choose a tax relief option at the June 15 meeting.

Read the full article in the Mercury: Pottstown School Board mulls how to provide tax relief

?Pottstown Middle School by Montgomery County Planning Commission (CC BY-SA 2.0)