Apr. 11, 2024
HARRISBURG – This week, Rep. Rob Mercuri (R-Allegheny) unveiled legislation aimed at returning taxpayer surplus money back to the rightful hand of the taxpayer.
“Pennsylvanians deserve to keep more of their hard earned money” said Mercuri. “The Pennsylvania Treasury currently has a substantial $14 billion surplus. Rather than using the revenue for additional government programs and spending, my legislation would return a portion of the surplus back to the taxpayers who earned it.”
Mercuri’s legislation would establish the 2024 Taxpayer Dividend Program to provide a one-time dividend to taxpayers who filed their 2023 Personal Income Tax returns in a timely manner. This program could return up to $1,000 per taxpayer.
“Sending money back to the taxpayers would be a great benefit to families across Pennsylvania,” said Mercuri. “A one-time rebate would go a long way in helping our families combat rising costs on essentials. Our families know best how to spend their money; we ought to give them their money back.
“Returning funds to the taxpayer in place of additional government overhead is the right thing to do. This initiative can be achieved while protecting the statutory goal of keeping 6% of the General Fund revenues in the Rainy Day Fund and keeping fiscal responsibility at the forefront. This is a significant but responsible action we can take to help the taxpayers of Pennsylvania, and I encourage bipartisan support to deliver this initiative.
“Not only does this rebate strengthen families’ budgets, but our state economy will benefit on the backend. Through sales tax collection and putting this money back into the economy, small businesses across the Commonwealth will benefit. This initiative is a win-win.”