Library Tax Information
*This page is under construction*
Election Results: CITY OF JEANNETTE LIBRARY TAX QUESTION
Vote for not more than 1 (WITH 8 OF 8 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,950 52.28%
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,780 47.72%
Total . . . . . . . . . . . 3,730
Vote for not more than 1 (WITH 8 OF 8 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,950 52.28%
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,780 47.72%
Total . . . . . . . . . . . 3,730
Pursuant to a request by the Yes Committee for Jeannette Public Library, and the desire of the City of Jeannette be transparent and informative to all of our residents, this page has been published to provide general information relative to the upcoming ballot referendum question regarding a special library tax increase.
On November 8, 2016, the voters in the City of Jeannette will have the opportunity to vote on the following ballot item:
"Shall the City of Jeannette establish an annual special library tax to provide for maintenance of and aid to the Jeannette Public Library at the rate of 1.24 mills on the dollar on all taxable real estate within the City of Jeannette?"
With regard to this referendum item, the City wishes to provide clarification and information as to the details of this item. There has been much confusion surrounding this topic. This page has been created in an attempt to provide objective, factual information to the voting public.
"Shall the City of Jeannette establish an annual special library tax to provide for maintenance of and aid to the Jeannette Public Library at the rate of 1.24 mills on the dollar on all taxable real estate within the City of Jeannette?"
With regard to this referendum item, the City wishes to provide clarification and information as to the details of this item. There has been much confusion surrounding this topic. This page has been created in an attempt to provide objective, factual information to the voting public.
Timeline of Events
Currently, each property in the City of Jeannette is subject to a special library tax of 0.24 mills.
The library board, in May of 2016, requested that City Council increase the special library tax to 1.24 mills, a tax increase of 416%. The statutory authority for implementation of this annual special library tax is found at 24 Pa. C.S.A. Sec. 9315. On May 5, 2016, City Council received the formal request from the library asking the City Solicitor to prepare an Ordinance reflecting an increase of the special library tax to 1.24 mills. At a meeting on May 11, 2016, upon a first motion by city council, the motion died for failure to obtain a second motion. Pursuant to statutory authority, the library circulated a petition to acquire signatures from 3% of the public who voted in the preceding general election to have a ballot referendum question on the November 8, 2016 ballot. Upon gathering the proper amount of signatures, the council of said municipality shall then, as a formality, approve a resolution directing the elections bureau to place the ballot referendum question on the upcoming election ballot. City Council approved Resolution 16-07 on July 13, 2016. On November 8, 2016, the voters in the City of Jeannette will be able to vote on the ballot referendum question: "Shall the City of Jeannette establish an annual special library tax to provide for maintenance of and aid to the Jeannette Public Library at the rate of 1.24 mills on the dollar on all taxable real estate within the City of Jeannette?" |
General Referendum Information
In 2016, there were 5041 taxable properties in the City.
The current 0.24 mill special library tax upon all 5041 properties equates to a total of $15,094 in taxes billed to property owners. Annually, the City has provided payment to the library in the amount of $1250 per month, for an annual total of $15,000, which is a reflection of the .24 mill library tax. The November 8, 2016 ballot referendum is seeking to increase the special library tax 1.0 mills upon each of the 5041 properties, totaling an amount of $62,893 in taxes billed to property owners. Should the referendum pass, the 5041 taxable properties will be subject to a 1.24 mill special library tax. This will generate a total of $77,987 in taxes billed to property owners. The City currently has a property tax collection rate of 88% (See below). If this same rate is applied to the collections of the special library tax levy, the library would net $68,629 in tax revenue. This is an increase of $53,629. Further Information: Pursuant to the statutory language found at 24 Pa. C.S.A. Sec. 9315 the city council may submit to the qualified voters the question of the library tax at any time. The tax millage increase could be requested at any other time in the future. According to Third Class City Code, there is no cap on the millage amount for special library taxes. City Property Tax Collection Rates
In 2014, the City sent out property tax bills totaling $2,142,567.
In 2014, the City collected property taxes totaling $1,838,036. The collection rate totaled 85.7%. In 2015, the City sent out property tax bills totaling $2,060,965. In 2015, the City collected property taxes totaling $1,821,577. The collection rate totaled 88.3%. In 2016, the City sent out property tax bills totaling $2,051,585. In 2016, the City collected property taxes totaling $1,748,408 through 10/20/2016. In 2016, the City budgeted to collect $1,819,371. |