Gaming Revenue Brings Quaker Valley Property Owners Some Relief

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has notified the Quaker Valley School District that it will be able to reduce property taxes with the portion of gaming funds allocated to the district through Act 1 of the 2006 Taxpayer Relief Act.

The relief program takes revenue the state receives from legalized gambling and uses it for tax reduction.

Quaker Valley will receive about $710,000 to distribute to 3,744 taxpayers who own their property and registered for the “homestead and farmstead” exclusion prior to the March 1, 2011, deadline.

The funding announcement comes as school districts are trying to close significant funding gaps from state . Quaker Valley earlier this week passed a proposed 2011-12 budget that calls for a slight tax increase of 0.25 mills.

Property owners must register one time for the “homestead and farmstead” exclusion in order to qualify annually for property tax relief. The tax reduction will appear as a reduced assessment line item on property tax bills, which the district will mail by July 1. Property owners and farmers who live on their land are eligible.

To obtain an application, please visit the Allegheny County Office of Property Assessment website for the link to the Homestead exemption application.