Politics & Government
Easton Council Approves LERTA Program
The move will provide tax abatements for property owners in designated areas that make major renovations that result in county reassessment.
Easton's City Council unanimously approved the formation of a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program Wednesday evening.
The program is intended to provide incentive for property owners to undertake major renovations and property improvements while easing the burden of increased taxes that come with a higher tax assessment when they are complete.
The LERTA designation areas will include 44 owner-occupied homes in , most of Downtown, sections of the West Ward extending as far west as 12th Street, and four sites in Southside.
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Is your property eligible for the program? See the attached pdf map to find out.
A staggered abatement in 10 percent increments will be granted to qualifying properties over a ten year period.
Find out what's happening in Eastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The program is expected to be officially implemented in about six to eight weeks, said Easton Director Gretchen Longenbach, after the Northampton County Council gives its approval, expected at their meeting later this month.
“There's no reason to think they won't pass it,” Longenbach told city council members. “They're very supportive.”
The Easton Area School District , at a meeting in April.
The program will take effect 30 days after the county council gives their final approval, likely making it available to property owners by the end of June.
“We're going to meet with the county and set it up on their end,” Longenbach said.
The program applies to residential, commercial and industrial properties within the designated zones, and property owners will be able to apply for the tax break when they apply for needed permits to do renovations. Only projects that start after the program is implemented will qualify, and only major renovations that will affect the property's county assessment are included.
Longenbach said she thinks the program will be good for the city.
“I'm really glad we got the support we did,” she said. “It'll be really useful to incentivize investment.”
This is the second time the city has had a LERTA program. The last was in the 1970s, she said. Though one was discussed in 2007, it wasn't implemented.
