Politics & Government
Upper Nazareth Supervisors Join Ranks of NIZ-Bashers
Supervisors urge township residents to vent their displeasure at lost tax revenue to their local lawmakers.
The has added its voice to the "nix the NIZ" chorus. Now the supervisors want township residents to add their voices, too.
NIZ stands for Neighborhood Improvement Zone -- a controversial 130-acre taxing district set to take effect in downtown Allentown in connection with the city's planned hockey and events arena.
The issue sparked the first of several long and winding discussions at Wednesday's supervisors meeting.
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Township officials -- like those of and school boards in the Lehigh Valley -- are not happy that Earned Income Tax (EIT) revenue for thousands of workers at businesses in Allentown's NIZ will be set aside for the arena construction fund -- even for those who live outside the city, in places such as Upper Nazareth.
This represents an unwelcome change for those workers' home municipalities and school districts, which formerly divided the EIT between them.
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“We are literally subsidizing the development … and the developer in Allentown,” said Upper Nazareth solicitor Gary Asteak.
Supervisors said they would like Upper Nazareth residents, who agree that losing the township's share of the EIT is unfair, to contact their state legislators -- state Rep. Joe Emrick and state Sen. Lisa Boscola -- to voice their displeasure.
“The more people the better,” said Supervisor Vice Chairman Scott Sylvainus.
To contact Emrick, you can e-mail him at Jemrick@pahousegop.com or call his district office at at (610) 746-5090.
To contact Boscola, visit www.senatorboscola.com to fill out a contact form.
One other tax-related item inspired much discussion Wednesday.
Supervisors finalized details for sending out property tax bills to township property owners this year -- as the township property tax rate .
This year, for the first time, Upper Nazareth taxpayers to pay their tax bill in two installments. Supervisors approved the installment plan -- based on similar plans used by public school districts, which levy higher tax rates than do municipalities -- for the benefit of cash-strapped township landowners who cannot afford to pay the whole bill at once.
Tax bills will be mailed later this month.