Haddock votes for increased education funding in state budget; pleased with expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Rep. Jim Haddock    July 6, 2023 | 10:31 AM

HARRISBURG, July 6 – State Rep. Jim Haddock provided the following statement regarding his vote to support the 2023-24 state budget that is headed to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro.

“This is my first state budget, and I am glad to see the commonwealth provide $617 million more in funding for Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts. The Level Up supplement for the most underfunded school districts will receive $100 million and that’s a start to properly funding schools across the state,” said Haddock, D-Luzerne/Lackawanna.

Haddock said state funding increases for the school districts he represents are the following:

  • Abington Heights School District: $640,707 or 6.8% more than the 2022-23 school year.
  • Lackawanna Trail School District: $508,953 or 7.1% more.
  • Old Forge School District: $230,353 or 5.6% more.
  • Pittston School District: $1.34 million or 9.5% more.
  • Riverside School District: $654,389 or 9.2% more.
  • Wilkes-Barre Area School District: $6.68 million or 13.6% more.
  • Wyoming Area School District: $225,943 or 2.1% more.

“I am also glad to see $50 million in continued funding for the successful Whole Home Repair Program that began this year,” he said.

Haddock said he was pleased to vote for separate legislation that would increase the maximum eligibility income limits for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program to $45,000 for both homeowners and renters and implement a cost-of-living adjustment to the limits in future years. Current law provides a maximum income limit of $15,000 for renters and $35,000 for homeowners.

The bill also would increase the maximum rebate amount to $1,000 from $650.

“By making these changes, we can help 173,000 additional people receive a discount on their property taxes and rent payments. While I would like to see us do more to lower property taxes for everyone, these are wonderful changes to a very successful program that I know benefits many folks I represent,” Haddock said.