Sewickley Herald

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K«n Johns, mayor of Sewickley, not holiday festivities underway Friday night with the village's annual light-up night. For more, see page 9.
Vol. 92 No 49
Wednesday, December 6, 1995
50 Cents
INSIDE
Pouplu
• Mary Jane Williams has been recognized by Sewickley Valley Hospitaller her many years of dedicated service. She was honored ata grand parly last week.
Fftga 8
Feature
• > Project Angel Tree helpsgettpys to kidswho have one or both par-
iports
Pag* 10
• Splish splash! The combined talents of Quaker Valley and Sewickley Academy should produce wins in the pool.
Pag* 2$
THE MAN OF THE HOUR: Santa arrived Justin the (Saint) nick of time during Sewickley's big parade. Area fire companies and the Quaker Valley High School Marching Band Joined Mrs. Pennsylvania in the annual kickoff of ihe holiday season..
Photo by Ed Galicic ‘
▼ QUAKER VALLEY
Lawsuit overturns gentrification
Judge R. Stanton Wettick	program be reviewed and	triet, explained the 1095
made some homeowners in the	changed. As it stood,	gcntrififid billings are in order.
Quaker Valley very happy by	gentrificationlimited the yearly	“It will be simple for the dis-
striking down Allegheny	property tax increase to five	trict. Forthe 1996taxycar, we’ll
County’s gentrification law.	pereentforcountyresidentswho	justbillatthecountyratesrather
Thoughthechangestandsfor	hadlivedintheirhomesformore	than using the gentrified ones.”
all county residents, Quaker	than 10years.	Thedistrict’s20-percentplan
Valleydistricthomeowners will The lawsuit contended that will be in question when the at-leamlaterthismonthiltheirZO- the disparities in the assessed	tomeys meet the judge again,
percent gentrification payment valuali«iofhomesKpittcdnel^»- “Our relief is different from program will hold.	bor against neighbor.*	thecounty’s,*saidPatrickClair,
The judgemet with attorneys During the 1992 reassess- district solicitor. "The language from Quaker Valley, the county	merits, some homeowners were	of ourresolutionisdifferent, too.
and the private citizens’ group	hit with huge tax bills whOeoth-	“If our resolution is invali-
wbich filed the initial lawsuit.	erspaidatthefivepercentratc.	dated, there will be an implies-
IhegroupfnmiUieSewickley Scott Banting, business ad- tion for other districts in the area asked thatthegetfrification miniatntor of the school dis- county.*
v ASSESSMENT
Edgeworth Club ruling sdll stinging
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' Now what?
It’s old news that the market value of the Edge-worth Club has been re-, duced, allowing for the lowering of faxes in local and county coffers.
But residents, such as. Peter Floyd of the Quaker Valley Tax League, expressed bis continuing outrage at November’s Quaker Valley School Boardmeeting.
Asexplaibedby Patrick Clair, the school district’s solicitor, there is no remedy for this decision. It is done.
The recent approval of Judge John L. Musmanno, now sets the value of the Edgeworth Club at $515,000, a figure that was determined by the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review. The property was once valued at $2.5 million.
Because of this retroactive devaluation, affecting 1993 through 1995, Edge-worthBoroughmustretum $32,000 of back property ~ taxes to the club.
Quaker Valley School District must return more than $70,000, perhaps in increments, on a schedule that has yet to be negotiated
Therefundwilianotcres* ate a major problem for the district, butitisalarge ehunkofmoney,*saidScott Bossucg, QV business administrator. “When one mill is valued at $200,000, this does not mean financial ruin.*
Yetfor future years, the ■ district and Edgeworth Borough must decide if an appeal is in order.
Since the school district
—-— Gontioeud ot» pag* 3
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