Referendum exemption is blackmail

Thumbs Down to Rep. Stan Saylor’s proposal to amend property tax reform legislation to an extent that renders taxpayer approval impotent when it comes to increases needed by the Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement system.

Senate Bill 854 would render any required referendum “utterly meaningless,” according to the Commonwealth Foundation.

The Senate legislation as originally written would require a taxpayer referendum if any proposed school district budget exceeds a standardized inflation level.

Saylor’s amendment would exempt the pension hikes, estimated to reach $200 million next year, from any referendum action.

That’s not reform, that’s legislative blackmail.