Report on assessed values released
Fayette County’s Chief Assessor James A. Hercik released figures Tuesday showing that the total increase of assessed values was 36 percent throughout the county. According to the figures, residents whose property assessment went up more than 36 percent should expect to pay more in county property taxes next year. Those whose property assessment went below 36 percent should expect to pay less. It’s the same formula for individual municipalities. In the accompanying chart, local residents can see the percentage increase for the various municipalities. If a resident’s increase is above the average for the municipality, then they will probably pay higher municipal property taxes. If it’s lower, then they will probably have a decrease in their municipal property taxes.
For most municipalities, the increase in assessments was between 30 and 50 percent. Six municipalities had percentages higher than 50 percent while 13 had increases lower than 30 percent.
The highest percentage increase was in Ohiopyle, which saw its assessed value go up 1.94 percent. Wharton Township was next with an increase of 1.88 percent followed by Markleysburg, 1.76 percent; Franklin Township, 1.53 percent, Washington Township, 1.51 percent and German Township, 1.50 percent.
Hercik noted that the Wharton Township increase was due to developments at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa.
“The Wharton Township increase includes several Nemacolin Woodlands projects that had previously been under the LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act) program,” Hercik said. The LERTA program allows tax-exempt status for qualifying properties for a limited time frame.
Newell Borough had the lowest increase, going up only .92 percent. Brownsville was next at 1.04 percent, followed by Everson, 1.09 percent, Fayette City, 1.12 percent, Masontown, 1.16 percent; Dawson, 1.18 percent, and the part of Uniontown in the Laurel Highlands School District, 1.17 percent.
Smithfield, Point Marion and the portion of Uniontown in the Uniontown Area School District all had increases of 1.23 percent while South Union Township had a 1.25 increase. Brownsville Township, Springfield Township, and the part of Menallen Township in the Uniontown Area School District had increases of 1.26, 1.27 and 1.28 percent respectively.
Overall, South Union Township had by far the highest total assessed value for 2010 at $758,448,990. Next was North Union Township at $544,041,210.
Hercik said he hopes to have the assessed values for school districts by the end of the week.