Incumbent Republican state Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins turned down his election opponent's proposal to jointly organize a local forum on property tax reform.

Democratic challenger Kyle Klaric had suggested gathering local school officials, property owners and tax experts for a forum to "help craft a property tax cut strategy that best suits the region."

Klaric said: "It is important to seek non-partisan discussion and I pledge that the meeting would be handled in an even-handed and productive way."

Klaric's call for the forum, however, wasn't totally apolitical.

"Even though Sen. Robbins opposed holding a special legislative session to lower property taxes, I am hopeful that he will emerge from his 19-year hibernation on this issue and play an active and constructive role in finding a more equitable way to fund our schools," Klaric said.

Robbins' response on whether he would jointly organize a forum with his opponent: "Absolutely not."

"I have a hard time believing his intent is as sincere as he claims," Robbins said. "On one hand, he offers an olive branch to hold a non-partisan meeting. On the other, he distorts my record in a very partisan manner -- stating that I have been in 'hibernation' and do not support a special session on property tax reform."

Robbins said he supports property tax reform and cited several major pieces of reform legislation he has voted for while in office -- including $100 tax rebates and the Homestead Exemption, which no local school district has enacted.

"Let me be clear, the property tax reform issue does not lack for ideas, but rather a consensus," said Robbins, who backs rolling reform into a voter referendum once a consensus is reached in Harrisburg.

Robbins added that he supports a special session on reform. Robbins did not sign a petition circulated among lawmakers -- most of them Democrats -- that led to a special session on property tax reform this year.

Robbins claimed he was not offered a chance to sign it and already was backing a January special session proposed by both major-party gubernatorial candidates when the petition was circulated. Robbins will sit on the Senate Rules Committee during this year's special session.