HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett has vetoed House Bill 1696, a measure that would have imposed a temporary moratorium on court-ordered countywide reassessments.
The moratorium would have applied only to Washington County.
After an extensive legal review that included consultation with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Corbett said the legislation, as enacted, would violate Pennsylvania’s Constitution.
This is Corbett’s first veto action. Since taking office, the governor has signed into law 89 bills.
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Editor’s Note: the text of the Governor’s veto message is as follows:
July 8, 2011
To the Honorable House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
I am returning, without my approval, House Bill 1696, Printer’s No. 2260. I regret having to do so. However, I have concluded that the bill, as it is written, is Constitutionally infirm.
Specifically, Article III, Section 32 of our Constitution states, in pertinent part,
“The General Assembly shall pass no local or specific law in any case which has been or can be provided for by general law and specifically the General Assembly shall not pass any local or special law.
1. Regulating the affairs of counties, cities, townships, wards, boroughs, or school districts…”
By limiting a property tax moratorium to counties of the fourth class, with a population between 185,000 and 210,000 as of the 2010 United States Census, the bill has restricted its application to one county – Washington County.
After consulting with legal counsel, including the Office of Attorney General, there is no question in my mind that the bill, as worded, would violate the State Constitution.
Consequently, pursuant to Article IV, Section 15, I am returning House Bill 1696, Printer’s No. 2260 with my noted objection.
(signed)
Tom Corbett
Governor