Atiyeh outlines plan for property-tax relief, education reform and senior security

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Independent candidate for Governor Dennis Atiyeh today outlined a three-part plan aimed at lowering property taxes, reducing unnecessary administrative spending in public education, and helping Pennsylvania seniors remain financially secure in their homes.

At the center of Atiyeh's property-tax proposal is the Pennsylvania Permanent Trust, a professionally managed public fund inspired by the Alaska Permanent Fund. A dedicated portion of qualifying revenue from Pennsylvania's natural resources would be invested for the long-term benefit of Commonwealth residents.

As the trust grows and produces reliable earnings, those earnings would be used to gradually reduce school, county, and municipal property taxes without cutting essential local services. Once property-tax obligations, reserves, and protections for the trust are satisfied, Atiyeh would also support relief for renters as authorized by law.

“If Alaska can do it, so can PA.”— Dennis Atiyeh

Alaska established its Permanent Fund through a voter-approved constitutional amendment and dedicated a portion of its mineral-related revenue to the fund. Atiyeh would work with the Pennsylvania General Assembly to establish Pennsylvania's trust, determine which revenues qualify, protect the principal, and create a responsible formula for distributing its earnings.

For families, the potential long-term impact is significant. A homeowner paying $4,000 per year in property taxes will pay $100,000 over 25 years—even if the tax bill never increases. Actual savings would depend on each household's tax bill, the trust's growth, and the schedule approved by the legislature, but the goal is straightforward: lower the continuing cost of owning a home in Pennsylvania.

Cutting administrative costs without cutting opportunities

Atiyeh's education-reform proposal is separate from the Permanent Trust. It focuses on reducing duplicated administrative and legal expenses so that more education funding can reach teachers, students, classrooms, athletics, and career programs.

Lehigh County illustrates the opportunity. Pennsylvania's official directory lists ten school districts serving portions of the county: Allentown City, Bethlehem Area, Catasauqua Area, East Penn, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern Lehigh, Parkland, Salisbury Township, Southern Lehigh, and Whitehall-Coplay.

Each district operates within a separate administrative structure. Atiyeh is proposing a county-level model that would consolidate superintendent-level administration and examine opportunities to share legal, purchasing, financial, human-resources, and compliance services.

Principals and assistant principals would continue leading their individual schools. Local communities and elected school boards would retain a defined voice in curriculum, facilities, school culture, and student priorities. Larger metropolitan areas and districts crossing county boundaries would require plans designed for their circumstances.

“The children need more activities, more teachers, more coaches.”— Dennis Atiyeh

The campaign's goal is to identify as much as $3 billion in annual statewide administrative and legal savings. Atiyeh would begin with a district-by-district review to determine where consolidation can save money while protecting educational quality and local priorities.

Verified education savings would be directed toward teachers, coaches, career and technical education, mentoring, athletics, and student activities. These savings would not be counted as revenue for the Pennsylvania Permanent Trust.

Helping Pennsylvania seniors remain at home

Property taxes can place a particularly heavy burden on seniors living on fixed incomes. For an older homeowner, a rising tax bill is not simply another expense—it can threaten the ability to remain in a familiar home and community.

Atiyeh believes reducing that financial pressure would give seniors greater stability, ease the stress placed on them and their families, and help more older Pennsylvanians remain at home rather than entering costly institutional care.

“Keep seniors home, happy around family and friends.”— Dennis Atiyeh

Atiyeh's plan would examine how property-tax relief, working alongside Pennsylvania's existing home- and community-based care programs, could improve seniors' quality of life while also reducing long-term Medicaid costs.

Building a trust that belongs to the people

Atiyeh believes the Pennsylvania Permanent Trust should be protected from short-term political spending and managed for future generations. His proposal calls for:

• A clearly defined, dedicated revenue source;
• Independent professional investment management;
• Public audits and regular performance reporting;
• Legal protections against raids on the principal;
• A sustainable annual spending rule; and
• Published milestones showing how and when property-tax relief would be delivered while local services remain funded.

Atiyeh describes Pennsylvania's land and minerals as the citizens' rightful inheritance. In America's 250th anniversary year, he is calling on Pennsylvania to think beyond the next budget and turn its natural resources into lasting public wealth.

For Atiyeh, the purpose is to make homeownership more affordable, put education dollars closer to Pennsylvania's children, and help seniors remain with their families. That is progress now for Pennsylvania.

Additional policy details and campaign updates are available at DennisAtiyeh.org.

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