BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

JEFF HASTE, CHAIRMAN

MIKE PRIES, VICE CHAIRMAN
DAUPHIN GEORGE P. HARTWICK III, SECRETARY

CHIEF CLERK/CHIEF OF STAFF

COUNTY CHAD SAYLOR

DIRECTOR
OFFICE OF TAX ASSESSMENT STEVEN L. HOWE, CPE
DAUPHIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
2 SOUTH SECOND STREET
P.O. BOX 1295
HARRISBURG, PA. 17108-1295

(717) 780-6101
(717) 780-6484 FAX

DRAFT

April 12, 2017

Kenn Medina, Business Manager VIA EMAIL:

kmedina@hbgsd.us
Harrisburg School District
1601 State Street
Harrisburg, PA 17103

RE: Tax Forgiveness Sinkhole Properties City of Harrisburg

Dear Mr. Medina:

As you are aware, late in the summer of 2011, successive storms, Hurricane Irene and
Tropical Storm Lee, produced near record rainfalls, widespread flooding, and significant
damage to residents, business, and infrastructure across large areas of Pennsylvania,
including Dauphin County. The President formally declared both Hurricane Irene and
Tropical Storm Lee Federal Disasters on September 3rd and 12th, respectively.

In response to this disaster declaration, the Dauphin County Commissioners passed

resolutions refunding and/or exonerating all 2014 2017 County real property tax for
properties effected by sinkholes generally located in the 1300 1400 blocks of S. 13 th, S.
14th, and S. 15th street corridor (see attached spreadsheet).

At the meeting of Harrisburg City Council last evening (April 11th, 2017, according to the
news no formal documentation or notification has been received) passed a resolution to
refund and/or exonerate City taxes for City tax years 2014 2017.

To our knowledge, the Harrisburg School District has not acted to exonerate and/or
refund School taxes for these affected properties for the effected years 2014 2017.
Many of these properties have delinquent real property tax and these taxes have
been returned to the Dauphin County Tax Claim Bureau for collection that may result

www.dauphincounty.org
in properties being offered for sale at the upcoming Judicial Tax Sale, which is
scheduled for June 12th.

Kenn Medina, Business Manager

April 12, 2017

If the Harrisburg School District is planning to act to exonerate, strike-off, and/or refund
real property taxes for these effected properties (tax years 2014 2016; 2017 school
taxes have not yet been levied) to avoid properties with delinquent taxes being exposed
for sale at upcoming tax sale, it is strongly recommended that such action and
notification to the Tax Claim Bureau be provided no later than Monday June 5 th,
2017.

If you have questions regarding this matter, contact me as soon as possible. Again, if
the HSD is intending to act, it is our request that the Tax Claim Bureau be advised by
June 5th to avoid tax sale complications.

Very truly yours,

Steven L. Howe
Steven L. Howe, CPE
Director

Attachment 1 (Excel Spreadsheet)

Cc: Samuel T. Cooper III, Esquire Solicitor Harrisburg School District, VIA EMAIL:
scooper@dilworthlaw.com
Dr. Sybil Knight-Burney, Superintendent, VIA EMAIL: SKnight-Burney@hbgsd.us
William Gretton, VIA EMAIL: wgretton@hbgsd.us
George Connor, Director, Dauphin County Department of Economic Development,
VIA EMAIL: gconnor@dauphinc.org
Holly Martz, Deputy Director Dauphin County Tax Claim Bureau, VIA EMAIL:
hmartz@dauphinc.org
George P. Hartwick III, Board of Commissioners Secretary, VIA EMAIL:
ghartwick@dauphinc.org & jmackey@dauphinc.org

www.dauphincounty.org
www.dauphincounty.org