Harrisburg school tax increased by 3 1/2 percent.

Harrisburg School District has announced a three and one half percent (3 1/2 % )  real estate tax increase as part of its new budget.  WGAL has more details. 

Cumberland Valley School District school tax increase

On May 20th Cumberland Valley School District in Cumberland County approved a tentative budget with a 2.9% school tax increase. This tax increase follows a county-wide reassessment last year and a 9.5% school tax increase by the nearby Camp Hill School District in 2010.

Cumberland Valley officials did not comment as to whether this tax increase bears any connection to the statewide lawmaker 2001 pension increase that has been projected to cause large school tax increases throughout Pennsylvania in 2012.

Pennsylvania school tax increase set for 2012-2013.

School taxes are set to increase in less than three years throughout Pennsylvania due to a pension increase lawmakers voted for themselves in 2001:

Think your school taxes were high this year? Start saving for 2012-13.

That's when Pennsylvania property owners will pay a lot more money to cover the generous pension bump state lawmakers awarded themselves, school employees and state workers in 2001.

H/T Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The tax hikes will cost the average property owner $558.00.

Jay Himes of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials has tried to estimate the effect on particular school districts:

"I was in the Erie area the other day, and one school district there calculated they would have to raise taxes 14 mills on top of their 48-mill taxes to cover it. That's a 25 percent property tax hike just to cover retirement costs. I don't think the property owners will stand for it. Something absolutely has to happen," Himes said.

Read the Tribune-Review article for the history of the pension increase.

Needless to say, as these tax hikes approach, property prices in Pennsylvania will face downward pressure.