Title
An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Division 4, entitled "Finances," Chapter 475, Article VII, entitled "Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Programs," Section 475-47 in order to increase Allegheny County's Homestead Exemption to $20,000, effective January 1, 2009.
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance No. 12-02-OR, County Council established a $10,000 Homestead Exemption for each qualified residence in Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance No. 62-03-OR, the Homestead Exemption was increased to $15,000; and
WHEREAS, the Homestead Exemption, now codified within Chapter 475, Article VII of the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, has not been increased in five (5) years; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of Council to provide relief from property taxes to who are least able to bear the burden of those taxes, while not damaging the tax base of any taxing body within the County that uses the County's assessed property values to compute its property taxes; and
WHEREAS, an increase in the Homestead Exemption to $20,000 will provide such relief to the County's homeowners and will aid in their ability to keep the homes that they own, while not impairing the County's ability to provide the services upon which its residents rely;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. Amendment of the Code
The Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Division 4, Chapter 475, Article VII is hereby amended as follows:
§475-47. Creation of Homestead Exclusion Program.
There is hereby established an Act 50 of 1998, Homestead Exclusion, for all applicable Allegheny County Properties. The initial $15,000 $20,000 of the assessed value of any homestead property in Allegheny County shall be excluded from Allegheny County real property taxation.
SECTION 2. Effective Date
The provisions of this Ordinance shall become effective January 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. Severability
If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. Repealer
Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.