Pa. renters have big stake in referendum

Passing on the chance to vote this spring may prove costly for renters.The May 15 primary will include a referendum on a tax shift that would increase the wage tax or establish an income tax in order to provide property tax relief.This relief, ranging from $82 to $677 depending on the school district, will apply only to homeowners. Since renters are not property owners, they will see their local income tax rise without the benefit of a corresponding tax break on property.The referendums were approved by school boards after recommendations by local tax-study commissions. They either approve increasing the wage tax -- now 0.5 percent in all school districts -- or establish personal income taxes, which include earnings from such things as stocks, bonds, rental property income and other investments.The deadline to register to vote is April 16. Any U.S. resident who has lived in a district for 30 days prior to the election and will be at least 18 on the day of the election is eligible to vote.A study by the Pew Research Center found that 22 percent of Americans are not registered.Nish Suvarnakar, field director for the Pittsburgh League of Young Voters, said the referendum is not the kind of issue that inspires voters."Largely