David Poskin’s letter “Highlands budget woes” hit the nail on the head regarding school funding in Pennsylvania.

Too many schools are experiencing declining enrollments but skyrocketing costs. Hardly a year goes by that there isn’t a sizeable increase in our real estate taxes. In districts where enrollment is declining, it is due to fewer children per family and/or fewer families of child-bearing age. This leaves the less mobile, fixed-income seniors paying the escalating bills.

We have got to find a way to get the burden of school funding off of our homes. Schools should be funded by the income producers and consumers.

Governors since Milton Shapp have campaigned on reducing or eliminating school real estate taxes, but as soon as they are elected, the promises go away. The state income tax, the lottery and casino gambling are examples.

Programs like Stop Taxing Our Properties and House Bill 1776 have tried to remedy the problem, but the powerful lobbies who are content with the status quo have prevailed.

Robert Hawk

Donegal Township

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