In response, Gerhard wrote a petition Thursday and started to circulate it Friday. He wants tax reform instead of a reassessment. J. Clark Kaskie, chairman of the taxpayer group, said people should study the issue of reassessment and consider if the taxes they pay are fair before signing Gerhard's petition. Kaskie said the need for reassessment will be explained at the group's meeting at 11 a.m. April 23 in the Towamensing Trails Clubhouse in Penn Forest Township.
Tax reform is the only true answer.
Gerhard said the state Legislature should allow the county to abolish the real estate property tax and instead tax people based on income and sales. The federal government operates on income tax. Gerhard said he decided on his own to circulate the petition. Commissioners Dean D.W. DeLong and John Mogilski were not consulted, he said. Gerhard and DeLong are the Republican majority commissioners.