Saturday, March 2, 2013
This program helps financially struggling individuals and families file their 2013 federal, state and local tax returns.
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Saturday, March 2
Allegheny County residents can take advantage of the Money in Your Pocket (MIYP) Coalition Free Tax Preparation Campaign, which helps financially struggling individuals and families file their 2013 federal, state and local tax returns. There are 11 locations staffed with IRS-trained tax preparers throughout the county. Now in its fifth year, the free tax preparation campaign helps low and middle-income workers maximize their tax refunds by claiming valuable state and federal tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Services are provided free of charge, offering clients a cost-saving alternative to expensive commercial tax preparation fees. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax …
Friday, March 1, 2013
More than 23,000 federal workers live in Allegheny County. How will sequestration affect them—and the economy to which they contribute?
Allegheny County is home to more than 23,000 federal employees and retirees who contribute to its economy and potentially could be affected if sequestration budget cuts are enacted today. The numbers shown here reflect the number of federal employees in each Pennsylvania by county in 2012, according to the latest figures from Eye on Washington, a DC-based lobbying firm that tracks federal employment. It compiles the data from the Office of Personnel Management, Federal Employment Statistics and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the 23,229 federal employees and retirees who live in Allegheny County, the greatest number—9,818—are retirees, according to the data. Veterans Affairs employs 3,564 county residents, and Defense or Human Services …
Is that old prom gown simply taking up space in your closet?
Those Plum and Riverview proms are a memory now, but what about the gowns and tuxes and accessories that went with them? Where are they now? Stuck in the back of a closet? Project Prom is looking for those fashionable duds. They could make another high schooler happy by helping him or her get to the prom dressed in style. The initiative of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services is accepting public donations of formal attire for girls and boys at downtown and Bethel Park locations. The Project Prom Shop at Century III Mall will begin accepting donations March 5. All donations must be undamaged, clean and currently styled. For girls the following items will be accepted: formal gowns (if worn, please dry clean); formal purses and …
Friday, February 1, 2013
Four residents from the Plum-Oakmont died during a flash flood in August 2011.
The families of four Plum and Oakmont residents are suing several entities after losing their loved ones during a flash flood in Pittsburgh's Highland Park neighborhood a little over a year ago. Relatives of Kimberly Griffith, 45, and daughters, Brenna, 12, and Mikaela, 8, of Plum; and Mary Saflin, 72, of Oakmont, are suing the City of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Allegheny County, Alcosan, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Chester Engineers Inc., and Chrysler Group LLC (the make of the Griffith vehicle). Attorneys Paul Manion and Alan Perer made the announcement Friday. After their minivan was immersed underwater during the Washington Boulevard flash flood on Aug. 19, 2011, the Griffiths drowned. …
Friday, January 25, 2013
County Controller Chelsa Wagner said Thursday the amount could be about $50 for the average household.
An analysis by Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner has revealed that the county could be on track to overcharge the average household by $50 in property taxes in 2013. “There is a strong possibility, from the data we have analyzed, that the county is on track to gain a windfall of as much as $38 million," Wagner said in a statement issued on Thursday. “I am calling on the administration to publicize every detail of their millage calculation to assure all taxpayers that no windfall will occur. No resident of Allegheny County should be overcharged one cent or $1, let alone $50 or more for the county’s failure to act.” She also expressed concern over the lack of transparency and available information surrounding the county’s current, …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Take caution if you're heading out the door.
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement calling for icy road conditions in Allegheny and surrounding counties Wednesday morning. Rain moving through the area—including in Plum, Oakmont and Verona—has created some icy conditions. According to the NWS, several counties are reporting ice on roads due to surface temperatures being below freezing, despite the fact that air temperatures are in the upper 30s and lower 40s. Pittsburgh Post Gazette traffic reporter Jon Schmitz said on Twitter that multiple crashes have been reported on Route 28 in Tarentum due to the icy roads. He also reported that more than 50 crashes have occurred in Butler County since 10 a.m. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is treating …
The borough's certified reassessment numbers indicate a 20 percent increase.
Plum Borough's real estate tax millage most likely will decrease this year. On Monday, borough Manager Mike Thomas announced that officials had received certified reassessment figures from the county, which indicated that property values in Plum increased 20 percent. The millage rate would have to decrease in order 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. With the current millage rate of 4.3, residents pay $430 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. Thomas said he is expecting a decrease of about a half-mill—3.7 mills, where residents would …
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Is your Christmas tree dropping its needles or looking a little tired? Drop it off to be turned into mulch at a county park near your home.
It's time to take down those Christmas trees, and there are many ways for you to recycle them this season. Allegheny County's fifth annual Christmas tree recycling program runs through Saturday, Jan. 19, at all nine regional parks—including Boyce Park in Plum Borough. Verona Borough's annual Christmas tree burning also will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. in the park next to the borough building on East Railroad Aveue. People can drop their trees off at the site. To participate in the county's program, residents can drop off trees from dawn to dusk daily. All lights, decorations, tinsel and stands must be removed from trees. The trees will be turned into mulch for use in Allegheny County’s nine regional parks. Trees may be dropped …
Friday, December 21, 2012
Council approved a final budget on Wednesday.
Plum residents will not experience a tax rate increase. During a special meeting on Wednesday, borough council approved an $11.67 million budget that holds the millage rate steady at 4.3 mills. That means a resident would pay $430 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. Tax rates have remained steady since 2008. Though the preliminary budget included a $5-per-month sanitation fee, officials cut it from the budget. Councilman Mike Dell said the borough has yet to receive certified county assessment figures for Plum. 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. "Plum has not received their assessment values, so we may have to …
Tuesday, December 4, 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…
diane
3:31 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
I feel that these victims' families have been haunted by this totally unnecessary tragedy and should be compensated. It's really not about the money. That will NEVER bring their lost family members back. However it WILL make a statement to the city that things need to be done to fix this "way over due" problem. Why does it always take a tragedy to open peoples' eyes? I pray everyday that the … more ›