Consideration of Resolution No. R-6-13 fixing a tax rate for 2013.On the School Board front, the final budget for 2013-14 will be presented and discussed Monday evening as listed on Monday's agenda. Will the millage remain at a millage rate of 27.67 (unadjusted for any change in assessed value) an increase of .54 mills (unadjusted for any change in assessed value) over the 2012-2013 school year? Isn't the proposed budget supposed to be available in its final form on May 10? It is May 10, and I don't see anything on the District website.
On December 11, 2012, the commission, through Ordinance 3226, set the millage for 2013 by formula to comply with application anti–windfall legislation and court orders. The municipality is now formally establishing the rate previously set by formula. The 2013 rate will be 4.51 mills. The 2012 rate was 5.43 mills on each dollar of assess valuation.
Recommended Action: Move to adopt Resolution No. R-6-13.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Municipality Sets the 2013 Millage
The agenda for Tuesday's Commission meeting states that the Municipality will be reducing the millage from 5.43 mills to 4.51 mills.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Not revealed or disclosed in either this proposed Municipal Resolution or in the December 11, 2012 Ordinance Bill No. 19-12 that became 3226 are the actual facts and factors associated with the formula used in determining the 4.51 millage rate...you know, the "final" County reassessed value, the "actual" 2012 real estate tax collected, the calculation in 2 sequentially required steps to (1) determine the "revenue neutral" millage for 2013, followed by a separate calculation of an allowable, up to 5.0% increase in millage (read that a TAX INCREASE) according to the PA anti-windfall law if so separately determined by elected officials. How was the 4.51 mills numerically determined, and why is this not being made known ? Is there to be a 5% millage increase, and if so, just when did the Commission specifically discuss and vote on a tax increase ? It was not buried in the adoption of the amended 2013 budget on Dec. 20, 2012.
And, does not the Home Rule Charter require that taxation and the setting of actual millage have to be established and approved by Ordinance, not just a Resolution ?
If this 4.51 mills does in fact represent a 5% tax increase, recall and well consider that the 2012 budget also resulted in a 0.67 mill increase over 2011, or a 14% increase. Anybody think a 19% increase over just 2 years is nothing to be concerned about, question or challenge ?
Regarding the school district, the public should realize that there are no penalties...fines or demotions/ resignations/firings...for failure to follow required policies, procedures or guidelines. The word "shall" is conveniently interpreted similarly to those of "can, might, may, perhaps" for cases of nonfeasance. It's just one big happy family, and to hell with the public !
Another issue that the pubic seems to be completely oblivious to... There are a number of properties, high priced properties, that saw their assessed values drop or stay level from their 2012 values.
So not only do they enjoy a drop in the millage rate, they get a drop in the value taxed.
So while some residents get hammered, these people will pay less than did in 2012.
Does anyone really believe any home values dropped in MTL?
Especially since the school board declares it keeps our home values high.
Let's look at one home that sold for over $300,000 6 years ago.
Its 2012 full market value was $267,000. At the '12 muni millage this homeowner paid $1449.81 in muni taxes.
In 2013 full market value is $288,000. At 4.51 mills this owner will pay $1,298.88 in taxes.
So how does that work? With the price of everything going up does this homeowner get a $150 break in their taxes while others may see theirs double over the previous year????
The Municipality budgeted $25,000 this year to appeal what they have determined to be significantly underassessed properties. That will cover appeal costs of the top 155 of the roughly 400 overall properties on the list.
Question is, were all 155 appeals filed before the County April 1, 2013 deadline ? Do these appeals bypass the informal & formal steps and go directly to Board of Viewers and then Court of Common Pleas ? If so, the results may be available by year end ?
Isn't this absurd.
The county spends millions of dollars of taxpayer money reassessing property, then individuals and municipalities spend millions more fighting to try and make the assessments equitable.
Are we sheep or what?
Post a Comment