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Westmoreland County board approves property tax exemptions for veterans and nonprofit
Summary
At its June 11 meeting the Westmoreland County Board of Assessment Appeals unanimously approved property tax-exempt status for a local nonprofit and multiple properties owned by disabled veterans, effective July 15, 2026; additional veterans were recorded as not requiring a vote.
Bob Hamilton, chairperson of the Westmoreland County Board of Assessment Appeals, moved on June 11 to approve property tax-exempt status for a local nonprofit and a series of properties owned by disabled veterans; Vice Chair Dan Galbraith seconded each motion and the board carried them unanimously.
The board approved exempt status for Tax Map Number 37-01-06-0-651 (Until the Whole World Knows Inc.), effective July 15, 2026, following the Solicitor’s report. The board then approved a slate of disabled veterans’ exemptions — including Ronald E. Betts (05-02-04-0-107), Laura A. McCartney (15-03-07-0-095), Forest R. Primm (24-04-05-0-084), Sean M. Bittecuffer (50-09-13-0-043), Alvin B. Costabile (50-22-07-0-039), Joseph A. Carnera (50-28-00-0-001-99-109), John B. Deffenbaugh (54-06-08-0-199), David R. Blacka Jr. (56-17-04-0-146), Walter J. Myal (59-11-03-0-019), David A. Cid (61-14-10-0-048), Michael T. Leachman (61-26-00-0-151) and Christopher S. Gaydos (64-03-11-0-025) to commence July 15, 2026. The board also approved continued exempt status for Tax Map Number 52-12-00-0-013 (Ruthie E. Swindell) and Tax Map Number 60-13-00-0-057 (Martha J. Davis). Each motion was recorded as carried unanimously; the transcript does not list individual roll-call votes or a numerical tally.
Chief Assessor Camdon Porterfield reported that the duplicate for school taxes will be locked in a couple of weeks; Deputy Chief Assessor Casey Shoup had no report. The meeting listed additional disabled veterans and associated tax map numbers that did not require board votes; those names were recorded by the board but no motions were associated with them in the transcript.
There was no old business reported and no new business raised. With no further discussion, Hamilton moved to adjourn and Galbraith seconded; the motion carried unanimously.
Votes at a glance
- Until the Whole World Knows Inc., Tax Map 37-01-06-0-651 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Ronald E. Betts, Tax Map 05-02-04-0-107 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Laura A. McCartney, Tax Map 15-03-07-0-095 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Forest R. Primm, Tax Map 24-04-05-0-084 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Sean M. Bittecuffer, Tax Map 50-09-13-0-043 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Alvin B. Costabile, Tax Map 50-22-07-0-039 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Joseph A. Carnera, Tax Map 50-28-00-0-001-99-109 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Ruthie E. Swindell, Tax Map 52-12-00-0-013 — approved for continued exempt status (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - John B. Deffenbaugh, Tax Map 54-06-08-0-199 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - David R. Blacka Jr., Tax Map 56-17-04-0-146 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Walter J. Myal, Tax Map 59-11-03-0-019 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Martha J. Davis, Tax Map 60-13-00-0-057 — approved for continued exempt status (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - David A. Cid, Tax Map 61-14-10-0-048 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Michael T. Leachman, Tax Map 61-26-00-0-151 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously). - Christopher S. Gaydos, Tax Map 64-03-11-0-025 — approved for exempt status commencing July 15, 2026 (motion: Bob Hamilton; second: Dan Galbraith; carried unanimously).
The transcript does not include individual roll-call votes or a numerical tally; all recorded motions are described as "carried unanimously."
