IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 557 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the current 
property tax deduction on private residences should not be further restricted. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 17, 2012 
Mr. PASCRELL submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the current property tax deduction on private residences 
should not be further restricted. 
Whereas the economic crisis led States’ revenue to decrease, 
reaching the height of an 11.7 percent decrease in the 
first quarter of 2009, which was the largest decrease 
since 1946; 
Whereas due to decreased State revenue, States decreased 
spending in all major areas of State services, including 
health care, services to the elderly and disabled, K–12 
education, and other areas; 
Whereas the need for these services did not decline, and, in 
fact, demand for these services rose as the number of 
families facing economic difficulties increased; 
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•HRES 557 IH 
Whereas due to elevated unemployment rates, revenues are 
likely to remain at or near their current depressed levels; 
Whereas State and local education funding accounts for ap-
proximately 93 percent of education expenditures, with 
nearly half of all property tax revenue used for public ele-
mentary and secondary education; 
Whereas the median property taxes paid across the United 
States increased by 29 percent from 2004 to 2009; 
Whereas median home value only increased 22 percent from 
2004 to 2009, including the period where median home 
values decreased by 6 percent during the economic down-
turn that started in 2008; 
Whereas median income of homeowners only increased 13 
percent from 2004 to 2009; 
Whereas the provisions related to homeownership are among 
the simplest and most easily administered provisions of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; 
Whereas the aggregated residential property taxes paid in 
2010 were $202.8 billion, of which the median property 
taxes paid were $2,043; 
Whereas the $172.1 billion of United States property taxes 
were deducted by 40.7 million taxpayers in 2009; 
Whereas the United States taxpayers average deduction 
among those deducting property taxes was $4,231 in 
2009; and 
Whereas the current property tax deduction is of crucial im-
portance to the economies of many communities and pro-
vides a valuable relief to areas of need, and the elimi-
nation or reduction of the property tax deduction would 
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•HRES 557 IH 
constitute a tax increase on United States homeowners: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the current property tax deduction on 
Federal income tax returns should not be further re-
stricted. 
Æ 
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