Lebanon County commissioners grant $5,540 rollback‑tax abatement to school property in 2–1 vote

The Lebanon County Board of Commissioners voted 2–1 on April 17 to forgive the county’s portion of rollback taxes tied to a parcel purchased by the LC Strong Foundation, the business entity that operates Our Lady of the Cross Catholic School.

County solicitor Matthew Beoble told commissioners the total county portion was approximately $5,540.76. The rollback arises because the parcel had been enrolled in the Clean and Green program and changed ownership. Beoble said the statute that governs rollback taxes gives local taxing bodies discretion to abate (forgive) part or all of the rollback in appropriate cases; other taxing bodies — the township and school district — also must act on their shares.

Beoble said the foundation had cited a statutory provision related to transfers to nonprofit or recreational uses, but he advised the board that that section likely did not apply because the parcel was not demonstrably going to be used “entirely for recreational purposes.” Instead he recommended consideration of the statutory discretion for religious organizations, which he judged applicable.

Commissioners debated precedent. An assessor present, Ted Connolly, reminded the board that a similar request about five years earlier in Palmyra had been denied by the county, though some other taxing authorities had granted relief in that case. Several commissioners noted letters of support from all four state legislators backing forgiveness in this instance. One commissioner said their “heart goes out” to the school but worried about setting a precedent and shifting the burden to other taxpayers. The motion to forgive the county’s portion passed on a 2–1 vote.

Ending: The county portion ($5,540.76) was forgiven; the transcript notes that the township and school district must take independent action on their shares.