Chester County Real Estate News: February 22
Commissioners move up deadlines for Chester County real estate tax bills
The county commissioners have moved up the due dates for county tax bills this year, which led some taxpayers to speculate that the county is hoping to generate additional revenue through late payment fees. But county officials said that the deadlines have changed so that the county can get tax revenue sooner rather than later. If the county gets money earlier, said Chester County Treasurer Anne Duke, it can avoid having to take out a loan to cover early 2010 operating costs. The early payment deadline has moved forward to March 16. Those who pay their bill by this date will get a 2 percent discount on their bill. The “face value” payment deadline is has moved to May 15, and anyone who pays their taxes after this date will face a 10 percent late payment penalty.
Source: Daily Local; 2/14/10
Web site for Landscapes2 comprehensive plan unveiled
Landscapes2, is available to the public at www.landscapes2.org. The interactive features include the Liveable Landscapes map, which shows the areas targeted for growth and those that are targeted for preservation. County residents who have been following the development of the plan are familiar with the Web site where portions of the draft plan were posted as it was being developed and where people could post their comments. The electronic version employs flip-book technology whereby the plan can be read as a book with a digital page turner. The plan can also be read on smart phones such as the iPhone and BlackBerry and the page will automatically adjust to the smaller screen size. The plan will be available on compact disc. It is also on the Web site as a .pdf file and can be printed. Hard copies can be ordered.
Source: Daily Times; 2/19/10
School tax hike likely in Kennett
The Kennett Consolidated School District is struggling to keep its annual budget low despite a challenging economic client. Under the proposed budget, the millage rate would increase from 23.9537 to 25.1034, or 1.15 mills. A mill is a tax of $1 per $1,000 of assessed real estate value. That means that for a home valued at $200,000, the owners would pay $5,020, an increase from the previous year of $229 or roughly 4.80 percent. The current proposed budget is set at $71,927,086. To keep up with deflated tax revenues, the district will seek to raise the millage rate above the Act 1 index, which currently sits at 2.9 for Kennett. The proposed increase would take the millage rate up 4.8 percent. The proposed budget is available for public comment and review in the district office and on the district’s Web site at www.kcsd.org. Source: Daily Local; 2/13/10
Avon Grove Sun is on the move
The Avon Grove Sun will move its office to West Chester effective Feb. 25, sharing offices with its sister paper, the Daily Local News. The Avon Grove Sun will continue to produce all the local news and sports readers have come to expect. Coinciding with the move will be an increased multimedia presence. Visitors to the paper’s Web site can expect to see video content that complements stories in the newspaper. And some stories will be posted to the Web immediately, instead of waiting for the weekly edition of the newspaper. Contact numbers will remain the same. The office number is 610-444-6590. Fax number is 610-444-4931. E-mail is AGSun@kennettpaper.com. Editor Chris Barber’s direct line at the Daily Local News will be 610-430-6961.
Source: Daily Local; 2/15/10
