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File #: 16-0243    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: First Reading
File created: 8/31/2016 In control: Board of Commissioners
On agenda: 9/7/2016 Final action:
Title: Authorizing the Tax Claim Bureau to Extend or Defer the Time for the Discharge of Tax Claims for Elderly Property Owners
Title
Authorizing the Tax Claim Bureau to Extend or Defer the Time for the Discharge of Tax Claims for Elderly Property Owners

Body
First Reading: September 7, 2016
Second Reading: September 21, 2016


ORDINANCE #244
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF THE
COUNTY OF LACKAWANNA, PENNSYLVANIA


AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LACKAWANNA COUNTY TAX CLAIM BUREAU TO EXTEND OR DEFER THE TIME FOR THE DISCHARGE OF TAX CLAIMS FOR ELDERLY PROPERTY OWNERS UNDER THE REAL ESTATE TAX SALE LAW AND IMPLEMENTING ACT 93 OF 2014

WHEREAS, Lackawanna County is a Third Class County existing pursuant to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Lackawanna County operates a Tax Claim Bureau pursuant to the provisions of the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, 72 P.S. §5860.101, et. seq. ("RETSL"); and

WHEREAS, Section 504 of the RETSL was added by the Act of December 20, 1990, P.L. 1462, No. 220 § l ("Section 504") and grants to the County Commissioners an option to extend or defer the period for discharge of tax claims on behalf of eligible persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older to prevent them from losing their residences and/or equity in their residences as a result of unpaid real estate taxes; and

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the County Commissioners, pursuant to Section 504 of the RETSL, to enact such a policy under the authority conferred by the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 7193.5 of the Municipal Claim Tax Lien Act (“MCTLA”) the General Assembly has permitted the tax claim bureaus of the several counties to adopt and use the procedures set forth in the MCTLA in addition to the procedures set forth in the RETSL; and

WHEREAS, Act 93 of 2014 was enacted on November 27, 2013, and became effective on January 26, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Act 93 of 2014 amends the MCTLA to enable a tax claim bureau, its designee or successor agent to file a general judgment lien for delinquent taxes outstanding on one property against other properties owned by the deli...

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