EMPORIUM — The Cameron County Commissioners have created a map to be viewed on the Pennsylvania Land Tax Fairness Coalition website illustrating the need for an increase in revenue for lands held by state entities.
Commissioner Phil Jones is a member of the coalition, along with commissioners from Potter, Clinton and Lycoming counties, Austin Area School District Superintendent Jerry Sasala and Potter County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) director Will Hunt.
The website, which was launched recently, includes news updates, information on several measures being pushed through the state House currently that seek to increase revenues, and interactive maps that illustrate the issues faced by rural counties that are disproportionally affected by state land within their borders.
In Cameron County, 60 percent of the land within the county is owned by the state as state parks, forestry tracts and gamelands. That land cannot be taxed, instead receiving payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) of $3.60 per acre which is split between the county, school district and municipality. An additional 18 percent of the land is tax exempt or preferentially taxed through various programs and exemptions.
Several pieces of legislation introduced by state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turlepoint, would raise the PILT to $6 per acre, and also push for a 20 percent return of timber sale and oil and gas revenue to counties with state-owned lands within their borders.
Currently, local taxpayers are burdened with footing the bill for services, including those mandated by the state that have caused funding crunches in rural areas. Most land brings in closer to $9 per acre, according to Causer.
The website is a wealth of information on the issues facing local governmental entities, and currently features interactive maps from Cameron, Tioga, Lycoming, Potter, Centre and Union counties. Instructions on contacting representatives dealing with these issues at the state level are also included. The coalition’s website can be viewed at pastatelandtaxfairness.com.
In other news, a $1,200 bid from Frank Raffaele was approved for the former Barnhart lot and house located at 101 East Sixth St. Ext. in Emporium Borough.
The property has been held in the county repository since it went unsold at last year’s judicial tax sale. The sale has already been approved by the Cameron County School Board. If accepted at the April meeting of Emporium Borough Council, the property will be sold to Raffaele.
Meanwhile, Jones and Commissioner Jim Thomas reported on a presentation by Country Squirrel Outfitters of Elk County. The company, which offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational equipment and clothing, has shown interest in opening a satellite location in Emporium near the West Creek Rail Trail.
A purchase of service agreement was approved with Dickinson Center Inc. on behalf of Cameron County Children and Youth Services and the Probation Department.
Also, the last day to register or change a name, address or political party prior to the May primary election is April 20.
Minor political party (Independent, etc.) nomination forms are available in the Elections/Commissioners office at the Cameron County Courthouse and must be returned by the close of business on Aug. 3 to be placed on the November ballot.
The next commissioners’ meeting will be held at 11 a.m. April 2 at the courthouse in Emporium.
