Pittsburg, PA
Proposed Allegheny County property tax increase opposed by some councilmembers
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Homeowners flooded Allegheny County Council offices with calls on Wednesday, complaining about a plan for a major property tax hike. Some councilmembers say they just can’t support an increase as large as the county executive wants.
Since the budget announcement Tuesday, county councilmembers say they have gotten an earful from their constituents and say they’ve heard enough: the 46% property tax increase is dead on arrival.
Citing flat revenues, an end to federal COVID aid and rising costs, Innamorato dropped a bomb.
“So, today we are asking for a 2.2 mill increase,” she said.
Since then, councilmembers have heard howls from their constituents about an unprecedented 46 percent property tax increase.
“This is just way outside the bounds of what we could potentially take back to the taxpayers,” said Republican Sam DeMarco.
Counting heads, Council President Pat Catena says there are already enough votes to kill the increase.
“I know Councilmember Futules is against it, I know Councilman Palmosina is against it,” Catena said.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see where cuts can be made. It’s that simple,” he added.
Innamorato said the hike is needed to meet costs and stave off disaster. The surplus is being deleted and costs are rising, especially for health care at the Kane hospitals and the county jail, where total costs have risen more than $20 million.
“And if we keep on the pace we’re on now, we could completely deplete our reserves in two years, which would be catastrophic for our bond rating and leave us in a precarious situation in the case of an emergency,” Innamorato said.
But councilmembers say she still wants to fulfill a progressive agenda with spending on things like child care, rental assistance, climate change initiatives and housing for those experiencing homelessness. They want her to sharpen her pencil to reduce some of those costs, noting that one of her first actions in office was to raise the wages of county employees to a minimum of $18 an hour.
“Last night we saw where that money is going to come from. She intends to take it from the taxpayers,” DeMarco said.
Controller Corey O’Connor says the administration needs to do more to produce other revenue by fostering economic development.
“The frustrating part for all of us should be is there’s no vision for growth, development, bringing in jobs. Because all of that, you’re not going to tax your way out of decline,” O’Connor said.
Over the next few weeks, councilmembers say they’ll be going over this budget with a fine-tooth comb, making all the necessary cuts to bring this tax increase down to size.
A man from Fayette County has been arrested and is facing over 1,000 charges related to alleged animal cruelty and neglect.
Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said that John Saxberg, 57, is facing charges in connection with what he called “a suspected illegal kennel operation” in Washington Township.
According to DA Aubele, Saxberg is accused of subjecting numerous animals to “deplorable conditions” and “circumstances constituting torture,” adding that approximately ten animals suffered serious bodily injuries.
Court records show that Saxberg is facing 1,029 criminal charges in total with offenses including aggravated cruelty to animals, cruelty to animals, neglect of animals, penalties related to dog licensing, and violations of vaccine requirements.
52 of the charges that Saxberg is facing are felonies, according to court records.
Online court paperwork shows that Saxberg was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon and is being held in the Fayette County Prison after bail was posted at $85,000.
A preliminary hearing for Saxberg is scheduled for late next week.
An Allegheny County park with 200-year-old trees has been added to a growing network of protected and publicly accessible old-growth forests.
Local leaders announced on Tuesday that Hartwood Acres is now part of the Old-Growth Forest Network, which consists of over 340 forests, though this is Allegheny County’s first.
The 692-acre property features a Tudor mansion built in 1929, and while about a quarter of the park is maintained, the other 75% is forested. Some of the oldest trees include a black oak that’s over 200 years old, and a sugar maple and red oak that are nearing 200 years old.
“Hartwood Acres is one of Allegheny County’s greatest natural treasures, and this designation recognizes both the ecological value of these forests and the generations of stewardship that have protected them,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said in a press release. “As we work to build an Allegheny County where everyone can thrive, that includes ensuring residents have access to clean air, green spaces, and the opportunity to connect with nature close to home.”
The Old-Growth Forest Network, founded in 2012, aims to create a national network of protected, mature and native forests that are accessible to the public. The goal is to preserve at least one forest in every U.S. county that can sustain a forest.
“The importance of the preservation of these rare forests cannot be overemphasized,” said Brian Kane, the Mid-Atlantic regional manager with the Old-Growth Forest Network. “As seen at Hartwood Acres, forests perform critical environmental services that benefit communities, such as storing carbon, providing wildlife habitat, and retaining stormwater. OGFN is grateful that Allegheny County values its old-growth forests and will enable its residents and visitors to marvel at these old hardwoods far into the future as they grow even more mature and majestic.”
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