As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “A top House leader has doubts
about a key element of a property tax relief plan, threatening to complicate
a legislative panel’s efforts to produce an acceptable compromise. “House
Republican leader Sam Smith, of Punxsutawney, said yesterday he didn’t like
the idea of transferring about $240 million from the state lottery fund to
provide property tax and rent rebates this year for senior citizens.

“.A six-member, House-Senate tax panel met briefly yesterday without
reaching a solution. It plans to meet today with leaders of both chambers,
along with Gov. Ed Rendell, in an effort to find a compromise on property
tax relief that will pass both the House and Senate.

“.The panel is trying to increase, from the current $15,000 to either
$25,000 or $30,000, the annual income limits for seniors to qualify for
property tax and rent rebates. The maximum rebate is now $500 a year, which
the panel would like to increase to $650.

“But doing so will cost about $200 million, [House Democratic Whip Mike
Veon] said. He favors transferring that amount from the Lottery Fund for two
years and then repaying the lottery account by using the projected $1
billion in slots revenue.”