PROCLAMATION Constitutional Amendment--Article VIII [28 Pa.B. 793] Whereas, Joint Resolution No. 3 of 1996 proposed to amend Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, relating to taxation, by adding a clause that reads as follows:
''§ 2. Exemptions and special provisions.
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(b) The General Assembly may, by law:
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(vi) Authorize local taxing authorities to exclude from taxation an amount based on the assessed value of homestead property. The exclusions authorized by this clause shall not exceed one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead property within a local taxing jurisdiction. A local taxing authority may not increase the millage rate of its tax on real property to pay for these exclusions;'' and
Whereas, Joint Resolution No. 3 of 1996 was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each House of the General Assembly and published pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, in the General Assembly next afterwards chosen, the aforesaid amendment to Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was proposed in Joint Resolution No. 1 of 1997, which was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each House of the General Assembly and published pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, the aforesaid proposed amendment to Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was submitted for approval to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania at an election held on November 4, 1997; and
Whereas, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, pursuant to law, has certified to me that the aforesaid proposed amendment to Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was approved by a majority of those voting thereon on the aforesaid day; and
Whereas, Section 903 of Title 1 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes requires the Governor, upon receiving the aforesaid certification of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to issue his proclamation indicating whether or not the proposed amendment to Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Constitution of Pennsylvania has been adopted by a majority of the electors voting thereon.
Now Therefore, I, Thomas J. Ridge, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim that the aforesaid amendment to Article VIII, Section 2(b) of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted by a majority of the electors voting thereon on November 4, 1997.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the Commonwealth, at the City of Harrisburg, this second day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and twenty-second.
Governor[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-244. Filed for public inspection February 13, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
