Apr 28, 2006 By Amy Zalar 4 min read

An effort by Fayette County Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink to end a tax abatement program for downtown Uniontown failed Thursday when the other two commissioners voted to renew the program for the county seat. Commissioners Joseph A. Hardy III and Vincent A. Vicites voted to approve a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act, LERTA, for the city of Uniontown until Dec. 31, 2008. LERTA grants a real estate tax exemption of 100 percent of the valuation of the new construction and improvements to buildings within the downtown business district, and it has previously been approved by the city of Uniontown and the Uniontown Area School District. According to Fayette County Chief Assessor James A. Hercik, CPE, the designation has been in existence in the city since the 1980s.

Prior to her no vote, Zimmerlink said studies have shown the program to be “ineffective and costly.” However, she said she agreed with Vicites’ comments at a recent candidate debate where, in talking about property tax reform, he said, “When everybody pays, everybody pays less.” Vicites is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 51st Legislative District for the state House of Representatives.

In response to Zimmerlink’s comments, Vicites said he is in favor of LERTA, which he said would help build the tax base. “The buildings will go on the tax rolls in the future,” he said. Vicites said there have been LERTA programs all over the county for the past several years, and he said he thinks it has had a positive impact.

Vicites clarified that when he made the statements that Zimmerlink referenced, he was referring to school taxes. He said the deadlock in Harrisburg needs to be broken on property tax reform. “It had nothing to do with LERTA,” Vicites said.

Zimmerlink said she believes the comments could be applied to the LERTA program because it deals with taxes.

Hardy said he agreed with Vicites in supporting the program. He said downtown businesses should be given a tax break to fix up their properties. He said the taxes would come in eventually. “Three years gets here really quick,” Hardy said. “In the interim, if we can encourage revitalization, I think you should.”

Hardy has purchased numerous buildings in downtown Uniontown recently and has made numerous improvements.

In other action, the commissioners approved authorization of a bid for the performance of renovation work to the Fayette County Courthouse mural rotunda.

The work will be funded by a $61,000 grant awarded through the Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a matching amount of $61,000 provided by the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas, for a total of $122,000.

Vicites said the funds would be used to restore the glass rotunda that is currently disassembled and stored in the bell tower.

He said 11 of the 20 panels were damaged after it was taken down in the early 1900s. When the rotunda glass is restored and placed in the courthouse, Vicites said lights would be placed above it instead of a skylight.

“I think it will really beautify the courthouse,” Vicites said.

Vicites said a future project would include removing paint on the lower rotunda glass, which covers gold leaf trim. Zimmerlink thanked the court for providing the match amount.

During a financial report of the county, Controller Mark Roberts ended on a very positive note, by saying that it appears there is an additional $325,000 in the budget.

Roberts said the money, combined with an extra that is available that was earmarked toward the purchase of the new voting machines, could be used to create an operating reserve for the county.

The commissioners took no action on Roberts’ recommendation.