The upcoming gubernatorial election is perhaps the most critical one in a long time. Pennsylvania is floundering and our financial future hinges on the outcome.

According to a USAToday report, Pennsylvania ranks 40th in business friendliness. A vote for Gov. Tom Wolf is a vote of more of the same policies that are devastating our state. Wolf is not responsible for all failed policies, but he has not taken the bold steps needed to reverse this foreboding path. Senate Bill 76 would change this overnight.

On the surface SB76 looks like a single-voter issue, a dollar-for-dollar tax shift from school property taxes to increased sales and personal income taxes that would fairly and equitably fund our schools. It is so much more than that.

$14 billion placed into the pockets of the property owners would hyperstimulate the economy. This is an extremely important domino impact folks need to understand.

A Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office analysis of SB76 shows that personal income and sales tax revenues would increase naturally on an annual basis, providing a stable and secure funding source. Even during the great recession of 2008, the IFO analysis demonstrated funding would have been adequate to fund schools as specified in SB76, tied to an inflation index.

SB76 is a self-perpetuating, self-feeding financial upward spiral -- exactly the bold initiative that Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner supports and is needed to reverse the fortunes of our state.

Robert Kistler

Palmerton