Pickett answers questions from Grange members

By Amanda Renko | The Daily Review

State Rep. Tina Pickett met Saturday with members of the Bradford-Sullivan Pomona Grange to discuss issues currently facing the state.

Grange members prepared a series of questions beforehand for the representative, who joined the group’s open meeting Saturday at the Wysox Presbyterian Church. Pickett answered the questions, including those related to agriculture, the natural gas industry and the state’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, during a session that lasted over an hour.

One popular question Saturday was whether it would be possible for the state to replace property taxes with sales or income taxes to fund schools. Because the property tax does not adjust to one’s income, those in the agriculture industry who have a tough year may have difficulty paying the tax, Pickett said.

“Property taxes are one of the toughest bills people have to pay,” she said.