Baldwin Township Officials Reduce Millage Rate

Though some property owners won't be able to tell, the real estate property tax, or millage, rate actually dropped almost 2 full points in Baldwin Township from 2012 to 2013.

The township's board of commissioners has decided on a rate of 7.80 mills for this year, down from 9.50 the previous year.

However, due to a recent countywide real estate reassessment that raised the value of most Baldwin properties, many property owners in the township will still see an increase in the amount of tax dollars that they'll be responsible for this year.

Leaders of most other Allegheny County municipalities set their 2013 millage rates months ago, but Baldwin Township officials were waiting to see how many Baldwin property owners were successful or even partially successful in lowering the assessed values of their lots via an appeals process.

Fully ready or not, the commissioners had to make a decision regarding their millage since the township's tax bills are typically sent out in the last week of April every year. And by court order, a municipality must set its millage at least 10 days prior to mailing those bills.

With only around 800 properties and truly no major developments, Baldwin Township relies heavily on its millage rate to maintain adequate services, so township officials felt it best to allow appeals to play out as long as possible.

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