BERNARD T 0 NEILL, MEMBER

P0 BOX 202029
HARRISBURG, PA 17120-2029
PHONE (717) 705-7170

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29TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT

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SUITE 105
755 YORK ROAD
WARMINSTER PA 18974
PHONE (215)441-2624

COMMITTEES
FINANCE, CHAIRMAN
EDUCATION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMONWEALTH OF

PENNSYLVANIA

HARRISBURG

July 13, 2016

The Honorable Chris Christie

Go ernor of the State of New Jersey
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Dear Governor Christie.
On behalf of the residents of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, we are wnting to express
our concerns with a recently issued Executive Order. On June 30, 2016, you
requested your staff to examine the impact of cancelling the Personal Income Tax (PIT)
reciprocal agreement the State of New Jersey has with the Commonwealth of
Pennsyh ama.
We urge you not to consider such action. Without the agreement, some 46,000 Bucks
County residentsnearly 15 percent of the countys population would be subject to
New Jersey income taxes resulting in a tax increase between 55 and 200 percent. As
you are aware, Pennsylvanias PIT is imposed at a flat rate of 3.07 percent as
opposed to New Jerseys graduated rate of up to 8 97 percent.
Furthermore, your state would lose a credit received from New Jersey residents
working in the City of Philadelphia, which imposes a 3.47 percent non-resident wage
tax. Additionally, such an increase in taxes will result in less disposable income that
could have otherwise been spent at Pennsylvania and New Jerseys numerous small
businesses. As you know that will have a negative fiscal impact on our local
economies that are still struggling to recover from the recent economic downturn.
In closing, we respectfully urge you to reconsider cancelling the reciprocal Personal
Income Tax agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of
New Jersey.
Thank you for your attention to this very important matter. We look forward to
working with you to a resolution that is in the best interest of the citizens of
Pennsylvania and Ne% Jersey
Sincerely,
Bucks County Delegation

July 13, 2016

Page 2

Representative Bernie ONeill, Chairman

Finance Committee
29th Legislative District

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Representative Gene DiGirolarno, Chairman

Human Services Committee
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Representative Kathy Watso?, Chairman

Children and Youth Committee
144th egislative District

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Representative Scott Petri, Chairman
Urban Affairs Committee
178th Legis ative Distric

Representative Tina Davis

14 let
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Representative Frank Farry

142 d egislative District

Representa ye John Ga1loy4

1 t
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Rep!v3entaive Marguerite Quinn

14 d Legislative Distrjjt

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Repre
tative Craig Staa
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