California appeals ruling that removes high-rise from tax rolls
CALIFORNIA – California Borough Council last week voted in favor of appealing a Washington County ruling that would remove Liberty Towers from the tax rolls. Liberty Towers, which was previously a public/private partnership, is now owned entirely by the county. The redevelopment authority recently went before the Board of Assessment Appeals to be exempted from property taxes as a nonprofit entity. The exemption was approved Nov. 2, according to the borough’s solicitor, Keith Melenyzer, and the borough now has 30 days in which to file an appeal.
The borough is no stranger to the concept of receiving payments in lieu of taxes from nonprofit organizations, being the home of California University of Pennsylvania, but the payment plan presented was less than palatable for some council members.
Melenyzer said the offer called for the payment of $12,456 this year instead of the previous tax bill of $20,664. In the second year of the agreement the payment would drop to $8,780 and in the third year and all following years, the payment would be $5,105. Melenyzer said that the school district and other entities affected by the ruling have agreed to the plan.
Councilwoman Sheila Chambers made a motion to appeal the decision and council members Shelly Roberts, Vicki Gallo and John Difilippo supported the motion. Councilmen Jon Bittner, Anthony Mariscotti and Walter Weld voted against it.
“I just hope we’re not wasting our money,” Bittner said.
Councilman-elect Patsy Alfano also questioned the wisdom of appealing the exemption, noting that earlier in the meeting council had voted to seek a grant of nearly $700,000 from the Washington County Local Share program.
“On one hand you’re going to go to the county and ask them for multiple thousands of dollars of funding and on the other hand, you’re going to fight them over $20,000,” Alfano said.
Council earlier in the meeting voted to commit $35,000 toward the estimated $700,000 cost of rebuilding Technology Drive, the project for which it is seeking the county grant. Bittner had told council that while a local match is not required for the grants that come from gaming revenue, local support tends to be viewed favorably when the grant applications are evaluated.
Council also voted to provide letters of support to the Center in the Woods, the Village at the Center in the Woods and the Mon Valley Progress Council for their grant applications to the Local Share program. Council will seek letters of support from those entities for its application as well.