Greensburg tax program 1 vote from securing another decade of incentives
The Greensburg Community Development Corp. only needs one more vote of approval before its tax incentive program can be renewed for another 10 years.
Greensburg Council and Greensburg Salem School Board officials voted this week to renew the LERTA, or Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement. The program gives commercial developers or property owners a break on increased property taxes in exchange ofr investing in improvements to existing buildings or dilapidated parcels.
The county commissioners will need to vote on the issue for the program to be renewed.
Greensburg’s program calls for a 10-year abatement on property taxes. During that time, the property owner pays 10% of the difference in taxes between old and new assessed values, Ligus said. That 10% is split proportionally among the three taxing bodies: city, school district and county.
Of the remaining 90% difference between assessed values, 75% goes into the GCDC’s Greensburg Revitalization Fund — used to improve the city’s storefronts and infrastructure.
After the properties exit the program, all three taxing bodies, receive the full property tax rate based on the new assessed value.
Related:
• Greensburg expected to approve extension on tax reduction program
• School board to vote on renewing tax incentive program for Greensburg developers
Three properties have qualified for the program since its inception — apartment buildings at 112 College Ave., the Sunnyside Medical Cannabis Dispensary at 303 E. Pittsburgh St. and Beeghly & Co. Jewelers at 401 S. Main St.
City council voted unanimously to renew the program. Mayor Robb Bell said he hopes the additional 10 years will mean more properties can take advantage of the property tax breaks.
“It’s been a great program, it’s been very instrumental in helping to develop downtown Greensburg,” he said.
Greensburg Salem school board voted 8-1 to renew the program. Board President Jeff Metrosky voted against the renewal.
Board members Frank Gazze, Tyler Courtney and Brian Conway, who serves on the GCDC board, spoke in favor of renewing the program last week.
Staff writer Renatta Signorini contributed.
Quincey Reese is a TribLive reporter covering the Greensburg and Hempfield areas. She also does reporting for the Penn-Trafford Star. A Penn Township native, she joined the Trib in 2023 after working as a Jim Borden Scholarship intern at the company for two summers. She can be reached at qreese@triblive.com.
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