Letter to the editor: Westmoreland County tax hike could have been raised gradually

I recently wrote to Westmoreland County Commissioners Doug Chew, Sean Kertes and Ted Kopas asking why our property taxes soared by 32.5%. Chew and Kopas responded to my query. Kertes did not.

Kopas provided this answer as part of his response: “unfortunately, after 20 years of flat property tax revenue, this was absolutely necessary to keep county government, and all the important services we provide, functioning.”

I believe we all grasp Westmoreland County’s fiscal situation, and I followed up with a question to both Chew and Kopas: Was it not possible to raise the property tax in increments over a few years? I have not received an answer.

Such a sudden and dramatic boost in property taxes will put a significant burden on family budgets in our county, where the median household income is $64,708 (in 2022 dollars), particularly among those on fixed incomes. Westmoreland County citizens facing this tax burden also may be interested to know that based on an internet search, I found that Kertes, as board chairman, is set to earn $98,942, and Chew and Kopas will be paid $95,418.

Chuck Costanzo

Unity