Uniontown Area approves tax abatement resolutions for Franklin, Menallen
Two townships within the Uniontown Area School District service area are a step closer to the approval of a tax abatement program that aims to incentivize improvements to blighted or economically depressed areas.
The school district approved for each of Franklin and Menallen townships a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) ordinance, which can be used to exempt newly constructed buildings or improvements to existing buildings from property taxes for five years.
LERTA authorizes local taxing bodies to exempt such construction in deteriorated areas of economically depressed communities from paying property taxes on the newly assessed improvements.
According to resolutions passed by the school board, improvements or new construction approved under either ordinance will be completely exempt for the first year.
Thereafter, it will be exempt 80 percent for the second year, 60 percent for the third, 40 percent for the fourth and 20 percent for the fifth and final year.
After the five-year grace period ends, the properties will be fully taxed.
The two agreements were approved on a conditional basis with their term lengths to be determined. The ordinances, which must be adopted by all taxing bodies, are awaiting approval of the Fayette County Board of Commissioners.
The ordinances were previously approved by Franklin and Menallen Township supervisors in October 2017 and March 2018, respectively.
Once the ordinances take effect, any person seeking a tax exemption must submit a request to the district within 30 days of securing a building permit or commencing construction.
The district has LERTA agreements with Henry Clay and Wharton townships, the latter of which dates back to 2006 and was renewed in five-year increments in 2011 and 2016.
Between October 2016 and March 2017, the district granted four tax exemptions to Nemacolin Woodlands Inc. for small construction projects in Wharton Township, including an employee bus shelter, golf course restroom facilities, storage sheds and an art studio.
At a June meeting, the board also:
n Approved a three-year continuing agreement with Champion Christian School to provide transportation of school students through 2020-21 school year.
n Approved the retirements of Pamela Gadd, Aleta Griffin, Catharine Hager, Jacqueline Lancaster, Greg Pastors, Linda Ruda, Diane Vaccaro and Robert Vilencia.
n Set meal prices for the 2018-19 school year, with a five-cent increase in student prices.
n Approved a resolution opposing Education Savings Account (ESA) voucher programs proposed by Pennsylvania Senate Bill 2.
n Approved the employment of Gena Keebler as head high school volleyball coach, Amanda Todora as assistant high school volleyball coach, Dominic Galderisi as assistant middle school football coach ($2,335) and Charles Mills as assistant varsity football coach ($3,660) for the 2018-19 school year.