The May primary ballot requires a referendum that asks if Grove City Area School District voters favor a .4 percent increase in the earned- income tax to fund a real estate tax reduction for residential homeowners. The issue is contentious and controversial.

The referendum requirement was passed by Pennsylvania legislators prior to the last election to create the illusion of "real estate tax reform." This charade provides no reform; it is simply a shift of charging wage earners more tax to fund a fixed real estate tax reduction of about $230 for residential homeowners.

In the Grove City School District, the shift represents only 3 percent of the district's $26 million total budget.

The groups of taxpayers who would pay for the tax shift include wage earners who rent, all wage earners who do not own a residence, and homeowner families with combined earned income in excess of $56,000. This higher-income group would pay more additional earned-income tax than the amount of their real estate tax reduction. These higher earners already pay two-thirds of the earned-income tax collected in the district.

The consensus of members of the Grove City School District tax study commission was to make no change to the existing local tax structure. However, the legislature did not allow us this option.

I was a member of the tax study commission. Personally, I am retired, do not pay earned-income tax, and I pay substantial real estate tax.

But I oppose this tax shift. It is unfair to those who would bear the burden of increased earned-income tax.

On Election Day, I urge voters to vote — and vote "no" — on this so-called tax-reform shift on wage earners.