New tech adds $635K to Mifflin County tax base

Commissioners discuss local property tax in the county

LEWISTOWN -- An additional $635,000 in revenue will be added to Mifflin County's tax base thanks to new imagery technology available through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency which brings property records up to date.

Laura Simonetti, geographic information systems director for Mifflin County, explained during the Mifflin County Commissioners' regular meeting that every resident's property tax in the county has been updated and field verified.

Simonetti said the updates were a result of what she referred to as "operation fairness," an effort which she said started in 2016 to ensure that everyone is "taxed thoroughly and paying fairly" according to the property they have.

The technology was able to find $173,000 in county revenues, $404,000 in school district revenues and $58,000 in revenues for the municipalities, said Commissioner Rob Postal.

"I think this is extraordinary…it shows the importance of keeping data up to date because if it's not up to date, it costs money," he said.

Postal explained that the increase in revenue is not an increase in milage, "it's just found revenue."

The board also took the following action:

¯ Approved exonerations of 2018-20 delinquent real estate taxes for the following parcels: An Armagh Township for a mobile home that was removed from the tax rolls in October 2020; a Derry Township property listed in the county's repository in the amount of $315.40; a Menno Township property with veteran's exempt status in the amount of $779.83; a Brown Township property in the amount of $406.08;

¯ Approved a resolution to open a Mifflin County CHIRP account at Juniata Valley Bank;

¯ Approved a 2021 Tax Claim Fees and Costs effective March 1;

¯ Approved an award notification for the RASA/VOJO grant for January 2021 through December 31, 2022 in the amount of $153,223;

¯ Approved an assurance of compliance for the 2020-21 Human Services Plan for an emergency rental assistance program;

¯ Approved the Mifflin County Human Services contract addendum with Clear Concepts Counseling for an additional allocation of $5,817.00;

¯ Approved a change order for an annex project with Lobar Inc., revising existing sprinkler piping in the basement for $2,319.74;

¯ Approved an annex project change order with Lobar Inc. for door and frame revisions for additional $1,585.88;

¯ Approved an annex project change order with Lobar Inc. for fire alarm equipment, wire and device install for $48,369.885;

¯ Approved a professional and administrative services agreement with SEDA¯COG for the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP);

¯ Approved an amendment to the professional and administrative services agreement with SEDA-COG for the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP);

¯ Approved an E-Recording agreement with CSC, Wilmington, Del., to provide electronic recording in the Register and Recorder's office;

¯ Approved a promotion of Douglas Zimmerman from part-time building and grounds assistant to temporary full-time maintenance technician, effective Feb. 22;

¯ Approved the resignation of Angela Snook from part-time, corrections officer, effective Feb. 24;

¯ Hired Corrine Lawhorn as a Children and Youth caseworker, effective March 8;

¯ Hired Andrea Alcade as part-time deputy coroner, effective March 8;

¯ Hired Danny Klinger as part-time security guard, effective March 8;

¯ Promoted Todd Stewart from part-time to full-time corrections officer, effective March 14;

¯ Hired Hunter Hepner as Children and Youth caseworker, effective March 15;

¯ Approved the resignation of Samantha Wolfley, probation officer, effective March 12;

¯ Approved the resignation of Brian Fleegal, public safety operation and training officer, effective March 12;

¯ Hired Brian Fleegal as part-time 911 telecommunicator, effective March 14;

¯ Hired Lucas Morningstar as part-time 911 telecommunicator, effective March 15;

¯ Hired Ashlynn Sunderland as voter registration/elections/veterans affairs clerk, effective March 15;

¯ Hired of Makyla Henry as a part-time fiscal affairs assistant, effective March 15, 2021.