Jan. 18, 2018
LEHIGHTON – To address the issues surrounding Bethlehem Water Authority’s proposed windmill project in Penn Forest Township, Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) has introduced two amendments to legislation addressing municipal authority projects,
Senate Bill 656.
“Residents and businesses within Penn Forest and Towamensing townships, who would be impacted first-hand by the proposed construction of 40 windmills, should have a say in this process,” Heffley said. “These amendments are designed to give them a voice in the process while also ensuring fairness for those who own property in the township.”
One amendment would require the Bethlehem Water Authority to ask for approval on potential projects by way of a voter referendum in Penn Forest and Towamensing townships. If the referendum passes, the authority can go ahead with the project. If the referendum fails, the authority cannot continue and cannot request a ballot initiative on the program again for five years.
The second amendment would address property tax fairness by requiring municipal authorities, if they choose to commercially develop the land, to pay all applicable taxes on all parcels of land they own in the county. The taxes would be assessed at the most recent fair market value. Currently, the authority can make payments in lieu of taxes.
“Bethlehem Water Authority pays taxes on only a fraction of the true value of the 22,000 acres it owns in Carbon and Monroe counties,” said Heffley. “Last year, it paid $20,375 in lieu of property taxes to Carbon County. This is far beneath fair market value. If the water authority chooses to develop this land, it should be required to pay the appropriate taxes.
“Thousands of hard-working families struggle to pay their property taxes each year, while the Bethlehem Water Authority, by dramatically underpaying what it should owe, deprives Carbon County school districts of much-needed funds,” he continued.
The bill is currently in the House Consumer Affairs Committee.
Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Morgan Dux
717.260.6695
mdux@pahousegop.com
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