Commissioners Approve Plumcreek Township LERTA
County Commissioners Pat Fabian and George Skamai discuss a potential LERTA ordinance for Plumcreek Township residents at yesterday afternoon’s public meeting. The ordinance was approved unanimously and will now be voted on by the Armstrong School District
by Jonathan Weaver
Plumcreek Township taxpayers are one vote away from a tax abatement.
Commissioners Pat Fabian, Jason Renshaw and George Skamai unanimously agreed to a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) ordinance after supervisors previously also voted as such.
Planning and Development Executive Director Rich Palilla said Plumcreek Township supervisors approved the ordinance locally September 12
“It has been the policy of the county to follow suit with the municipality,” Palilla said. “This ordinance does cover the entirety of Plumcreek Township (with) a 10 year abatement – 100 percent reduction in year one and 10 percent of payments the following years. It does cover residential, commercial and industrial property, and has a 20-year sunset date.”
Palilla advised commissioners that with the latest ordinance, Plumcreek Township would be the 19th Armstrong County municipality to adopt a LERTA tax abatement.
Earlier this year, commissioners and Armstrong School Board directors recognized and adopted tax abatements for residents in Bethel, East Franklin, Manor and North Buffalo Townships.
After School Superintendent Chris DeVivo’s recommendation to approve earlier this year, Commissioner Chair Fabian said the trio of commissioners would consider each tax abatement ordinance as they are presented.
“We agreed that as individual municipalities (pass resolutions), whether they are industrial, commercial or residential, the school district and the County would follow suit,” Fabian said. “As (individual municipality agreements) come through, we will adopt those as well.”
Fabian said last week he talked with North Buffalo Township Supervisor Chair David Wolfe about the influx of residents taking advantage of the tax abatement structure.
“(By) talking about it (during September’s town hall meetings), I think people were alerted to LERTA and are slowly taking advantage of that,” Fabian said.
School directors are to vote on the requested ordinance Monday evening at their monthly regular board meeting.
Local News | jweaver October 7, 2016
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