Friday, December 21, 2012

Meadville City Council approves budget, cuts property tax rate ...

MEADVILLE ? Real estate taxes in Meadville are heading lower as City Council has approved a new budget that cuts property taxes by more than 2 percent in 2013.

Council voted 5-0 Wednesday night for a 2013 budget that drops Meadville?s property tax rate down from its current 20.92 mills to 20.42 mills, effective Jan. 1.

The reduction in the city?s property tax rate means the owner of a residence with the city?s median assessed value of $25,000 will see the tax bill fall by $12.50 from the current $523 to $510.50. It?s a reduction of 2.39 percent.

However, the reduction in property taxes will be more than offset by an ordinance putting a fee on the city?s stormwater management system. Property owners will be charged $90 a year for each ?equivalent residential unit? on their properties to pay for upkeep of the city?s aging stormwater system. A single family home will be considered one equivalent residential unit.

Financial contributions from several non-profit organizations that are fully or partially exempt from property taxes helped the city cut real estate taxes by 0.50 mills for 2013, Mayor John Christopher Soff said.

Financial contributions from a half dozen non-profit groups within the city totaled more than $143,000 for 2012, with Meadville Medical Center and Allegheny College providing the bulk of that money, according to Tim Groves, the city?s finance director.

Those contributions combined with $45,000 that council instructed staff to borrow from one of the city?s special-purpose funds has allowed council to cut the current tax rate.

Council also expressed appreciation for the time staff devoted to developing the 2013 budget.

City Council and the city?s staff also earned praise from Pete Hoke, a North Main Street resident in attendance at the meeting.

Hoke said he knew those involved ?worked long and very hard on this budget and I know it?s not easy.?

Under Pennsylvania law, a municipality must approve a balanced budget by each Dec. 31 for use the following year.

Financial contributions to the City of Meadville from non-profit organizations located within the city for 2012 and 2011:

2012

Unitarian Church $155

First Presbyterian Church $3,000

Women?s Services Inc. $400

Bethany United Methodist Church $100

Meadville Medical Center $75,000

Allegheny College $65,000

Total is $143,655

2011

Jewish Community Center $300

Park Congregational Church $300

YMCA $1,500

Bethany United Methodist Church $100

Meadville Medical Center $40,000

Allegheny College $65,000

Total is $107,200

Source: http://meadvilletribune.com/local/x349506257/Meadville-City-Council-approves-budget-cuts-property-tax-rate

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