Williamsburg Set To Vote on LERTA

Blair County, Williamsburg Borough, and Woodbury and Catharine Townships are poised to adopt two ordinances that will provide tax breaks for new construction as well as improvements to existing structures within the respective municipalities through the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA), and the Deteriorating Real Property or Areas of Tax Exemption Act, known as RLERTA.

Last Thursday, the Blair County Commissioners voted to advertise the proposed LERTA ordinance for the three municipalities and will vote on its adoption at the October 11 commissioner’s meeting. Williamsburg is slated to vote on its adoption during October’s borough council meeting.

LERTA is a state program began in 1977 that encourages new construction and additions and improvements to existing structures by easing the county, local, and school district tax burden for five years.

Under LERTA and RLERTA, real estate taxes are forgiven the first year, reduced to 80 percent forgiveness the second year, 60 percent forgiveness the third year, 40 percent forgiveness the fourth year, and 20 percent forgiveness the fifth year. It is in the sixth year that real estate taxes associated with the property will begin to be paid at the normal rate.

Williamsburg Mayor Ted Hyle said LERTA is a win for the borough and townships because it not only encourages the new construction needed to establish growth, but it also gives incentive to current property owners to improve and expand which both raises property values and controls potential blight.

“It’s something people can take advantage of to ease those initial costs,” Hyle said. “As costs go up everywhere, a tax break like this helps control some of that.”

Williamsburg and its surrounding areas have been on a push to attract new business and residents to the area by marketing around the Lower Trail. The borough has seen some growth after losing two banks and a grocery store, with two new restaurants opening within the past year and PennCrest Bank, headquartered in Altoona, slated to take over the building abandoned by Mid Penn bank earlier this year.

“This is a good thing for Williamsburg,” Hyle said. “People who are looking to add on to their homes or build a new one will get a little bit of a break in this time of rising prices.”