Lehighton discusses LERTA program
By Terry Ahner
tahner@tnonline.com
Lehighton has been asked to consider a tax assistance program to encourage business ventures.
Borough council last week heard a presentation on the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Program from Kathy Henderson, director of economic development for the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation.
Henderson, who also serves as Main Street Steering Committee Economic Vitality Chair, discussed a LERTA designation and recommended zone with council.
She said a LERTA District serves as a tax incentive program to entice existing businesses and new businesses to come into the area.
The tax incentive program encourages property owners to renovate or update a building to encourage businesses to locate and grow in an area.
Projects eligible for the LERTA program include repairs, construction, improvements to alleviate health concerns, economic use and to comply with ordinances or regulations.
Under the program, new commercial or industrial business ventures are eligible for a 10-year phase-in exemption schedule of property taxes.
Properties would be assessed at the purchase price for tax purposes and upgrades to properties would be phased into the taxes over the 10-year period.
Henderson said that Weissport has a designated business district, having designated Bridge Street from the Weissport Bridge to the railroad tracks along with the lower end of Franklin Street as Weissport’s official business district. The area centers around The Hofford Mill project on Bridge Street, which is being transformed into an entertainment complex.
She said that a LERTA program in Weatherly is still in the works, and is looking at areas in Kidder Township, such as along Route 940.
For Lehighton, the recommended LERTA District from the Main Street Steering Committee is from the Lehigh River west to and including Second Street from Carbon to Alum, and to include thenow closed Red Castle Brewery.
After the meeting, borough manager Nicole Beckett stressed that the matter is under advisement.
“This zone was a recommendation at this time,” Beckett said. “No action had been taken on approving the zone, as that will be part of establishing the LERTA.”
Beckett noted that council had previously approved proceeding with the next steps in establishing the LERTA to include meeting with county and school district officials.
Comments
The financial problems in Lehighton's district are self-inflicted from miss management. The problems go back ten years of poor management. Lack of asset management, lack of financial management and lack of proper leadership.
Sincerely,
Citizen David F. Bradley, Sr.
I knew an old town
That swallowed a lie
I don't know why
They swallowed the lie
I guess they will cry
I knew an old town
That floated a bond
They floated the bond
To fix the lie
I don't know why
They swallowed that lie
I know they will cry
I know and old town
That built a new school
They thought it be cool to build a new school.
They built a new school
To consume the funds
They borrowed the funds to
Cover the lie
The created a lie I don't know why, but this town has begun to cry.
Debt piled high to cover the lie,
Upon our children and upto the sky.
This board keeps spending without a clue, the predictions of pain all came true.
Thank you for reading this far. Theatrics garner attention and sometimes we all need a good poem to open the conversations.
They started with a lie, and hid the truth. Transparency is coming, but slowly as they are blaming me and the other guy. I created a balanced budget with a slight tax decrease, it meets all the State requirements for this government be solvent.
Now, for the blunt truth. If we look at the district as a government of, by and for the people, we can meet the educational requirements without going insolvent. The path they are on is riddled with despair. A government can't actually go bankrupt, since they have taxpayers to pay for all their mistakes. The bond documents show these rubber-stampers were fools with our money. They pledged the full taxing authority of the government to the bond holders. The interest rates are escalating and the PSERS are crushing most about every district.
Purveyors of a peaceful reform we ask for their apology and resignation.
Let the wiser heads transparently make decisions with community oversight and approval. Together we can reform this back to a government of, by and for the people again. Rigid principles, and moral guidelines can navigate us to a sustainable community. The system is set up that the taxpayers control the board, the board controls the administration and the administration handles the day to day.
We have a real budget, with a slight tax decrease, but can not move forward while the government is controlled by these rubber stampers. The five that make up government gave their blind trust to the administration. They are blocking reforms with their block votes. Evil or stupid, the facts are the facts. And I say evil since we warned them repeatedly with facts upon facts.
Talk to your neighbors, talk to your friends. Unsustainable consumption is a hard for the corrupt to correct. However, it is easy for those with character willing to serve the public.
Contact me at dbradley@lehightongovt.org
I welcome your input.
Sincerely,
Citizen David F. Bradley Sr.