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Finance staff propose district property‑tax rebate to match state program; cost estimate ~$35,000
Summary
Finance staff presented a proposal to implement a district property‑tax rebate program matched to Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate schedule. Staff estimated the cost to the district at roughly $35,000 annually and proposed an October board resolution with implementation for FY 2026‑27.
Finance staff recommended the board consider a district property‑tax rebate program that would match Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate schedule, during the Aug. 11 work session.
Business administrator Anthony Dady (presenting the finance report) said the proposed program would mirror the state program’s eligibility criteria — age‑ and income‑based rebates for older adults, widows/widowers and people with permanent disabilities — and use the state’s income verification process to minimize local administrative burden. “This recommendation would be a match, a full match,” Dady said.
Dady estimated the district cost at about $35,000 a year based on recent state rebate recipient counts in the district (91 claimants in 2021; 86 in 2022) and said the estimate reflects the state’s current rebate levels. He told trustees the district’s finance team had consulted the Keystone Collections Group and used available state data to develop the estimate.
Advantages cited by staff included targeted relief for low‑income older and disabled residents and administrative simplicity because the state verifies applicants’ income. Disadvantages include the budgetary impact, which would reduce real estate tax revenue by the estimated amount; staff said the district could cover the cost from reserves or identify offsetting reductions.
Timeline: staff said they will present a formal application and a draft resolution in September and would ask the board to consider final approval in October; implementation would begin in the 2026‑27 fiscal year.
Staff also noted Sage, the district’s existing tax rebate/program for certain participants, would remain in place under the current proposal. Staff said the two programs could operate concurrently and that eligible taxpayers could apply for both programs; staff will return with final application form language and a proposed resolution in September.
Next steps: staff will present the application and draft resolution in September and seek board approval in October to implement the rebate beginning in the 2026‑27 fiscal year.
