AARP Pennsylvania Backs Governor’s Call for Property Tax Relief

We’re applauding Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf for urging members of the state General Assembly to direct more than $200 million toward tax and rent relief for older Pennsylvanians and residents with disabilities.

During a Thursday news conference in which he touted his broader strategy for using the unspent federal aid Pennsylvania received through last year’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Wolf called on lawmakers to direct more funding to the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. The program supports low-income older adults and residents with disabilities. “We know that a lot of Pennsylvania households are still recovering financially from the pandemic, and that is especially true for low-income households,” Wolf said, noting that the $1.7 billion available to the state in ARPA funds is “sitting around, not helping anyone right now.”

Pennsylvania is one of several states where AARP is supporting efforts to ease or mitigate residents’ property tax burdens. AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh joined Wolf’s news conference, calling the relief a “critical investment” that will allow the state and its residents to “effectively respond to the negative economic impacts created by the pandemic.”

Wolf’s plan would also allocate $500 million to help families cover certain household expenses, child care costs and education or workforce training programs..

Read more about AARP Pennsylvania’s support for tax relief.