Senate Republicans are lauding themselves for the bipartisan passage of SB269 on May 7 which reduces the state’s income tax rate (3.07% to 2.8%) and eliminates the Gross Receipt Tax (GRT) on electric bills. I decided to look at the numbers.

If you work at the minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour the decreased tax rate will give you merely an extra $3.49 per month. If you make $50 per hour, you will have only an extra $23 per month. Multiply your PA 2023 taxable income by 0.0027 to estimate your savings.

I totaled the GRT line item for 12 months of my electric bills. For our all-electric, 2,000 square foot home, the average savings from SB269 would have been just $8.50 per month. You can also do that math.

While SB269 will be a minor tweak in my wallet, the reduction of our state’s revenue is significant. The Senate Fiscal Note states that the bill will reduce revenues by $3 billion (yes, that’s with a “B”) each and every year, likely growing annually. I find no lawmaker telling us how that revenue will be replaced and/or which state programs will be cut or deleted.

SB269 provides lawmakers with misleading soundbites during this election season. Sen. Aument stated on the Senate floor: “SB269 will give working Pennsylvanians the break they deserve” and “SB269 throws Pennsylvania families a lifeline.”

Maybe they are not counting on us doing our own math.

Jodi Reese, Lower Paxton Township, Pa.