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Motion expressing the Sense of Council of Allegheny County by urging municipalities and school districts in Allegheny County to adopt a homestead exemption as a means of effecting further property tax relief for property owners.
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WHEREAS, Act 50 of 1998 created the Homestead Property Exclusion Program Act, enabling governing bodies of political subdivisions to exclude from taxation a fixed dollar amount of the assessed value of eligible properties; and Allegheny County first implemented a $10,000 homestead exemption for residential property owners in 2002 and raised the homestead exemption to $15,000 in 2003, an exemption which continues today; and
WHEREAS, although available to all political subdivisions in the County, according to the County Treasurer's Office, currently only two municipalities - Findlay Township and the Municipality of Monroeville - offer this property tax relief to its property owners; and
WHEREAS, the reliance on property taxes in the Commonwealth continues to be an issue that must be addressed on the state level; however, local officials must also do their part to protect low-income and seniors that are most impacted by rising property costs and millage rates by making programs such as the homestead exemption available to its property owners; and
WHEREAS, although many municipalities offer an Act 77 Senior Citizen Discount Program, it is limited to those individuals who meet the age and income requirements of the state act; a homestead exemption would apply to all property owners who utilize their property as their primary residence and also extends to property owners who have farmsteads; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County Council promotes and encourages action on the part of local elected officials in the county's municipalities and school districts to adopt an Act 50 Homestead Exemption for property owners in those areas;
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, AND IT IS THE SENSE OF THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, that mun...
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