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Pennsylvania property owners received increased rebates this
year toward their school tax bills as part of the Commonwealth
program of using a share of gaming tax revenue to aid citizen's
property tax burden. The payments fulfill the promise of the
Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Act to "provide a
significant source of new revenue to the Commonwealth to support
property tax relief, wage tax reduction, economic development
opportunities and other similar initiatives. 4 .P.S. 1102
Legislative Intent (2004). However, the signature intent behind
Pennsylvania's creation of a gaming industry, which is now
second only to Nevada's in casino revenue among the states,
"to enhance live horse racing, breeding programs,
entertainment and employment in this Commonwealth, has not proven
as easily achieved. Successive administrations in Harrisburg have
sought to lower the revenue originally intended for the benefit of
Pennsylvania's horse racing industry.
About $595 million in property tax rebates or wage tax relief is
being shared by Pennsylvania districts statewide this year. There
is also an additional $138 million directed to programs to benefit
low-income tax abatement and rental-rebate programs and about $21
million to reimburse Philadelphia-area districts for lost income
taxes from residents who pay the Philadelphia wage tax. Rebates are
not automatically provided by school districts to property owners;
the property owners must first apply. Pennsylvania property owners
can learn about procedures for obtaining gaming tax rebates from a
Special Report posted by the Commonwealth's Auditor General. http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Department/Info/Performance/TipsForHomeowners021712.pdf
Pennsylvania Horsemen populating the six horse track racinos in
PA are not as pleased with the Commonwealth's largess under the
enabling legislation's intent to benefit horse racing. Over the
last few years, PA reduced the share of slots tax revenue horse
racing realized by 17% and now Governor Corbett proposes further
cuts in his budget, on top of the previous reductions, in the
amount of $72,000,000. Horsemen estimate that the cuts could cost
the Commonwealth as many as 10-15,000 jobs as other states offer
more competitive purses and breeders awards. The Department of
Agriculture has reported that employment in the industry tripled
due to the revenue gains from slots tax revenue from 13,870 to more
than 41,100. (Data from Press release by Pennsylvania Equine
Coalition; 3/14/2012: http://www.themsoa.com/images/documents/pec314.pdf
).
The redirection of funds from Pennsylvania's Race Horse
Development Fund would require Legislative approval.
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