By Laura Van Wert

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013, 9:30 p.m.
Updated: Friday, January 18, 2013

The final millage for 2013 will be set later in the year in Jefferson Hills.

Borough officials will wait to see what tweaks are needed to set the tax rate because more than 300 parcels of land, making up a $28 million difference between the old and reassessed property values, are waiting for appeal hearings with Allegheny County, said Andrew McCreery, borough business manager, at the borough council's business meeting Monday. The appeal hearings are a result of the 2011 county property reassessment.

In December, the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas extended the deadline for municipalities to approve the final 2013 millage rate to June 15, McCreery said.

“This will give us a little bit more time,” he said.

Jefferson Hills Borough Council approved the $12.93 million 2013 budget on Dec. 10. McCreery estimated that the tax rate should reduce from 5.63 mills in 2012 to 4.4 mills in 2013 for the proceeds to remain revenue neutral, he said. The millage is an estimate based on the real estate taxes collected in 2012, $2.895 million.

Jefferson Hills also could take advantage of the 5-percent windfall permitted with the reassessments, which would bring the total millage in 2013 to 4.624 mills and an estimated $160,000 more in property taxes, McCreery said.

Jefferson Hills Borough Council voted on the following items at Monday's business meeting:

• The Jefferson Estates Planned Residential Development, second addition, will move forward after borough council approved the project, in a 5-1 vote. Councilwoman Vicky Hatfield-Ielase was in the dissent.

The group originally denied the project in December because of parking issues in the plans, said Councilman James Weber. The plans were rearranged to accommodate more parking, meeting borough requirements.

• Borough council unanimously approved preliminary and final approval of the LaMarca Construction Plan, a commercial development on the north side of Ridge Road and the west side of Century Drive.

• Borough council unanimously approved the acceptance of two parcels of property transferred to the municipality.

The properties, 0.72 acre on Wakefield Road and 0.36 acre on Cochran Mill Road, have the potential to be developed as road right-of-way expansions, said solicitor William Shimko. The next step for the borough is to pursue tax exemption for the properties.

• Borough council unanimously approved the purchase of two 2013 Ford Sport Utility police interceptors from Tri-Star Auto Group for $55,566; a 2013 International 7400 SFA 4X4 cab and chassis from Hill International Trucks and Services for $98,410; and a stainless steel dump body, plow and spreader from Walsh Equipment for $57,045.

• Jefferson Hills will host a family Valentine's Day dance on Feb. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gill Hall Fire Company. Tickets will be $16 per family in advance and $20 per family at the door.

Laura Van Wert is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-388-5814 or at lvanwert@tribweb.com.

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