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If you are a homeowner in Allegheny County, paying a higher property tax bill can make this more comfortable knowing and doing it. The bill may also come to some county council members who voted for tax hikes last year.
In December, the council approved the first property tax hike (an increase of about 36%) that increased the county’s property tax rate to up to 6.43 mils for over a decade. Three council Democrats are currently seeking re-election: Michelle Nakkarati Chapkis of District 8 and Bob Palmosina of District 12 both voted in the hike’s favor. And challengers who want to defeat them are taking into consideration the impact they have on the ballot box.
The possible political consequences of the hike were clear before it was passed. Shortly before the vote, Democrat David Bonaroti warned that the party could cost him.
“Republicans spit at the fact that it’s going to be an increase of 1.7 (the factory),” said Bonaroti, one of three Democrats who voted “No” along with two Republicans on the council. He spoke.
And in a January newsletter for the Allegheny County Republican Committee, Executive Secretary John Schneidier urged candidates to take advantage of the rise, not just the race of the county council. .
“Next year, only (two) county council members who supported this measure will be voted on, but no matter what office you are looking for, the big wedge issue will help you separate from your Democratic opponents. “We provide the following,” he wrote.
Running on an anti-tax platform is not a groundbreaking strategy for GOP. And at least one council candidate from District 1 took up the idea.
The tax hike, like the one passed last year, “it won’t be at once,” predicted Republican Tom Fody, who is competing for a seat in the Council’s First District. He predicts that there is a high possibility that further increases will occur in the coming years, and he says that “there is someone who will continue to be it to force it to do so because there is no better term. I’m very eager to do so.”
Such a message may resonate in places like County Council District 1, where current representative Jack Betkowski voted for taxes but decided to run for reelection. The district covers Rostownship and airport area suburbs such as the Moon and Findlay, as well as the Ohioliver community such as Ben Avon and Emsworth.
These communities tend to have a higher percentage of homes owned than the entire county. This is a place where residents are sensitive to changes in property taxes. In the 2023 county executive race, many District 1 districts won Democrat Sarah Innamorato for Republican candidate Joe Rocky. And it was represented by the council by Republicans until Democrats turned it upside down eight years ago.
Kathleen Madonna Emmaling, a Democrat running in District 1, said the tax hike is “a really strong issue in my district” especially when combined with the possibility of a reassessment. .
And while the impact of hiking was often explained in that a home with median county value costs around $110,000, she said, “the median home is not $100,000.” said.
She said, “It means there’s a push and a pull. vs. “What’s fair?”
Democrats have long kept a close eye on political fallouts. Shortly after proposing the hike, Innamorat took a tour of the county to explain how the county’s budget is being spent, from economic and labor development programs to county-run nursing homes.
“Of course, raising taxes was not (Innamorat’s) first option, but the public is very supportive when talking to people about what the county does and where the taxes go.” County spokesman Abby Gardner told Wesa this week.
“People like our parks and their 911 calls will be answered,” Gardner said. They like to pave county police and repair bridges with the county police and what we do to provide those important services, economic development, business maintenance, growth It is our job to tell you what we are doing to invest in. ”
But even among candidates for state and federal offices that are not related, the increase has become a problem, even when hikes are still pending.
State Senator Nick Piciotano, who was running for the state senator seat against Republican Jen Dintini, sent a public letter to the council last October, phased out the increase and cut costs. I only asked after measures were taken.
“Aregeny County has not increased property tax millages for over a decade, so we understand the financial pressure that the situation creates on the county’s operations,” he writes. “But given the impact of inflation on household budgets, particularly fixed income, the first county property tax hike in 12 years is a shock.”
Meanwhile, in a social media post, Sen. Dave McCormick, the Republican candidate at the time, said he was trying to get involved in the increase in the opponent, saying, “While the commons are rising, Bob Casey’s Democratic friend is in Allegheny County.” I decided to impose a friend of mine. A massive tax rise on Pennsylvanians.”
It is not clear that the increase had an impact on either race. Both Pisciotano and McCormick won.
As chairman of the council’s budget committee, Democrat Palmosina, who played a key role in putting together the budget, did not respond to a request for an interview from WESA. However, Council President Catena said it is still unclear how the issue will regenerate into the council’s race.
Katena voted against the hike and said that the county needed new revenue, but the amount was a sticking point for many residents of his Charles Valley-centric district.
“Every time we take money from people’s pockets, it gets in the way,” he told Wesa on Wednesday.
