Sunday, March 24, 2013
Or does it act more as a business? And what about the other major nonprofits in the area?
In a June 2012 "Taxpayer Alert," Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner questioned the fairness of nonprofits that have expanded their roles beyond the traditional definition of a charitable organization, but still maintain tax-exempt status. "In these challenging financial times, it is our duty and responsibility to address the questions raised by a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling and determine if properties are used for a truly charitable purpose," Wagner said in the report. "While exemptions are justified for clearly charitable organizations such as churches, soup kitchens and many others, some are plainly unfair." A 2012 state Supreme Court decision has given local governments a tool to challenge the loopholes in a five-…
Friday, March 15, 2013
Maggie Donaldson attends Western PA School for the Deaf and court member Shea Shovlin lives in Edgewood.
Maggie Marie Donaldson, a student at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Edgewood, has been crowned as Miss Smiling Irish Eyes 2013. Shea Shovlin of Edgewood is one of this year's Miss Smiling Irish Eyes’ court maidens, as is Erin Marie McMahon of South Park. "Maggie, Shea and Erin are outstanding examples of the amazing young people that call Pittsburgh and Allegheny County home," said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who crowned the three young woman during a ceremony Friday. "Contrary to the perception of young people that many have, these three young women are engaged and accomplished students who are volunteers in the community who actively promote their Irish heritage.” Maggie, the daughter of Tom and Lilli …
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The county's tax rate will be 4.73 mills in 2013.
Allegheny County Council passed a 2013 budget that includes a millage rate decrease. On Tuesday, county officials approved a a $799.4 million budget, reducing the millage rate to 4.73 mills, according to the Tribune Review. The millage was reduced from 2012's rate of 5.69 mills to offset the increase property values stemming from the county's reassessment. Under the reassessment, taxing bodies can't receive more than 5 percent in property tax revenue so as not to use the reassessment as a major tax increase. Under the new tax rate, a resident would pay $473 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said in a statement that he is happy with the approved budget. "(I) am glad that we are able to move into…
Monday, October 22, 2012
Barbara Daly Danko told her about her personal experience with breast cancer during an Allegheny County ceremony declaring October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
- Zandy Dudiak
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Monday, October 22, 2012
Allegheny County Council member Barbara Daly Danko (District 11) had a chance to bring home the importance of breast cancer awareness during a ceremony earlier this month when officials declared October 2012 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the county. Danko told about how she has a family history of cancer and how her mother, who was diagnosed at age 48, lived to be 72. Then the councilwoman read a letter she had written to her family and friends when she was diagnosed with stage 2 or 3 breast cancer. Danko endured outpatient chemotherapy and radiation and she said in the letter that the next six months would be hard for her family. The twist was that the letter was written in 2005. See what she had to say when she told her story. The …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
A local group plans to present petitions on Thursday in downtown Pittsburgh calling on Allegheny County election officials not to enforce the new voter ID law this November.
Opponents of Pennsylvania's new voter ID will make their case Thursday before the state Supreme Court. There's no timeframe for a ruling from the court—but the Nov. 6 General Election is fast approaching. Oct. 9 is the last day to register to vote. The Supreme Court is composed of three Republican and three Democratic justices (a seventh judge was suspended while she faces criminal charges). A 3-3 tie would affirm the decision of the lower court, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report. Commonwealth Court upheld the law in August. Supporters say the law will prevent voter fraud and imposes the same photo ID standard required in many common circumstances. Challengers say the law is designed to disenfranchise poor and elderly voters …
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Property owners are permitted to postpone their hearings only once and will have the new appeal heard on Saturdays in late July or early August.
The Allegheny County Board of Property Assessments Appeals and Review is updating the rules with its assessment appeals regarding hearing postponements. The board voted that any hearing that has been postponed by either party will be rescheduled for Saturday dates starting in late July or early August. All of those hearings will be held on the third floor of the County Office Building located at 542 Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh. The assessments appeals board also reemphasized its rule permitting only one postponement per property. To postpone an appeal, the property owner must submit the request in writing at least seven days before the scheduled hearing date. If property owners are making emergency requests, they must be made in writing …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Good news for Braddock!
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced today that the county has provided more than $500,000 in funding to facilitate the redevelopment of the former CUDA building in Braddock. The building will be built-out for a combination market-rate restaurant and job-training, affordable café. “We are excited to support this project in Braddock Borough and impressed by the unique opportunities that it is bringing to the community,” said Fitzgerald. “The CUDA building was once the heart of the Italian market in Braddock and, thanks to the partnerships of Heritage Community Initiatives, Springboard Kitchen, chef and restaurateur Kevin Sousa and the community, it can be the cornerstone of Braddock’s central business district once again…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Join this discussion and have your say.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Tuesday, May 8, 2012
County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and County Council Member William Russell Robinson will hold the last of 15 town hall meetings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on tonight at Hosanna House. This is the last event, held in District 10, to assist homeowners with the 2013 court-ordered reassessment process. Hosanna House is located at 807 Wallace Avenue in Wilkinsburg. The town hall meeting will include a presentation that explains the reassessment process, how to prepare for informal reviews and formal appeals, and other options for reducing assessed values, as well as a question-and-answer period. In addition, staff will be on hand to assist property owners in completing forms and answering general questions on the reassessment. Legal and real estate …
stella vickers
7:12 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
I wonder what dianne's agenda was in coming here and trying to defend what she does not know first-hand. She has never set foot in the insurance division and has no idea of what she is referring to. If she did, she'd know that UPMC as a whole has been laying off mid-management system-wide for some time now. So, ms. sawl, where do you propose that money is going to, from the salaries that are now … more ›