Miller Named Treasurer
Long-time Harrisburg official Dan Miller is the city’s new treasurer, following a close vote last month by City Council.
Miller bested a field of four nominees to replace Tyrell Spradley, who left after 18 months in office and just months after being sworn in for a full term. Miller will serve until the next municipal election in 2017.
Council selected Miller by a 4 to 3 margin in a second round of voting, following interviews with all four nominees. Besides Miller, the finalists included former city Councilman Brad Koplinski and local attorneys Karen Balaban and Peter Marks.
Miller, an accountant by trade, told council that he wished to serve because he is well qualified for the job and hopes to improve the operations of the department. He plans to set up a separate website for the treasurer’s office and said he is not interested in running for higher office.
Miller has a long history of public service in Harrisburg, previously serving as a city councilman and city controller. Three years ago, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor in a contentious race against now-Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
School Budget Passed
The school portion of Harrisburg’s property tax will drop slightly this year under a $143 million budget passed last month by the district’s school board.
The board cut the tax rate from about 27.9156 mills to 27.8 mills, meaning that an owner with property valued at $100,000 would see a tax decrease of about $11 for the 2016-17 school year. Property tax bills are due to be mailed this month.
The school board was divided on whether to retain the current tax rate and keep about $150,000 in the budget or give homeowners a small tax break. In the end, the board decided to offer the largely symbolic tax cut.
Teacher Contract Approved
The Harrisburg school board and teachers agreed to a new contract last month, ending a four-year battle between the two sides.
The agreement gives teachers their first raise since a state-appointed chief recovery officer was named in 2012. In turn, teachers and others covered by the agreement, including school guidance counselors and nurses, will contribute more to their health care plans.
Before the agreement, teachers had threatened to strike if the school board and the Harrisburg Education Association could not reach a new accord.
Dispersal of Housing Funds Considered
Harrisburg would retain federal housing funds for its own use under an ordinance introduced last month by the city administration.
Under the proposal, the city would keep nearly $1.9 million in Community Development Block Grant funds, an annual grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. For years, the city has shared the money with a select group of nonprofit organizations.
Under the administration’s proposal, about one-third of the amount would go to debt service, as the city must pay back a federal loan it backed for the once-bankrupt Capitol View Commerce Center, as well as pay back other federal community development loans dating back about 15 years.
Remaining funds would go to public safety, housing rehabilitation, emergency demolition and several other city-identified priorities.
Several nonprofit groups have protested being shut out of the annual distribution. At press time, City Council had not agreed to the final disbursement of the monies.
Tax Abatement Finalized
Dauphin County last month gave the final OK to Harrisburg’s tax abatement plan, allowing the 10-year abatement to proceed.
The county commissioners approved the plan unanimously, which will offer a full, 100-percent abatement over 10 years for improvements to residential properties and at least a 50-percent abatement on improvements to commercial properties.
A divided City Council passed the administration’s abatement plan last year. The school board approved it in May, leaving only Dauphin County—as the final taxing authority for city properties—to offer its blessing. Harrisburg now must hire an administrator to oversee the program.
The abatement also offers some benefit for new construction, but, to get tax relief, developers must follow certain requirements, including paying a prevailing wage for construction workers and hiring a certain percentage of minority and local workers.
State Forgoes Appeal
The state attorney general’s office will not appeal a court ruling that dismissed 305 criminal counts against former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed.
In a brief statement, the office said it would honor a May ruling by presiding Judge Kevin A. Hess that the crimes alleged by the state occurred too long ago, exceeding the statute of limitations.
The state, though, will continue to pursue 144 criminal counts against Reed on theft-related charges.
“With his fascination for the Wild West, this man used other people’s money to decorate his house and office with antiques,” said Solicitor General Bruce L. Castor Jr. “But Pennsylvania is not the Wild West. We have the rule of law here.”
New Precinct Planned
Allison Hill soon may get a new police precinct, as the city plans to renovate a building near 15th and Derry streets.
Money to rehab the one-story structure would come from part of a $250,000 federal community grant, according to Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter.
Allison Hill residents have been clamoring for increased police presence for many years, and Carter said the new, 24-hour station should make police officers more visible, while reducing response times and increasing ties to the community.
Home Sales Jump
Home sales in the Harrisburg area continued their yearlong rise, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.
Sales rose to 908 units in May compared to 792 units in the year-ago period, with the median price rising to $174,900 vs. $170,000, said GHAR.
In Dauphin County, sales totaled 297 units against 269 in May 2015, while the median price dipped to $155,000 from $159,900. In Cumberland County, sales rose to 326 from 281, and the median price increased to $219,561 from 213,712. Average days on the market fell in both counties.
In Perry County, 30 homes sold compared to 37 in the year-ago period. However, the median price increased to $151,500 vs. $117,900 in May 2015.
In addition to all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, GHAR covers parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.
So Noted
Harrisburg Beer Week handed over a check for $40,000 last month to Harrisburg River Rescue and Emergency Services. The check was double the amount raised last year during the weeklong celebration of craft beer. River Rescue plans to use the money for additional improvements to its facility.
Highmark Blue Shield presented Harrisburg with a $100,000 grant last month to fund summer enrichment and after-school programs for children in the city school district. The Highmark funding will support activities like basketball, golf, swimming, various educational field trips and a daily lunch. Harrisburg children ages 6 to 18 are eligible.
PinnacleHealth this month plans to open the new Lebanon Valley Advanced Care Center, an 80,000-square-foot building at 1251 E. Main St., Annville. When fully occupied, the facility will house numerous groups, including Annville Family Medicine, PinnacleHealth Endocrinology, Select Physical Therapy, PinnacleHealth Express and the PinnacleHealth CardioVascular Institute.
Rite Aid in downtown Harrisburg will move across Market Street into about 14,000 square feet in Strawberry Square, it was announced last month. The larger space will allow Rite Aid to offer more products, as well as a retail pharmacy, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square. The move should occur by the end of the year. In other Strawberry Square news, CASA plans to take another 2,400 square feet of space there, while the fashion brand AMMA JO last month doubled its presence by expanding into an adjoining storefront.
The Game Table Café has cut the ribbon on its location at 4900 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg. The Game Table Café provides a relaxed setting to enjoy a cup of coffee and play board games with friends and family.
Changing Hands
Barkley Lane, 2515: K. Troung & L. Pham to L. Truong, $45,000
Bellevue Rd., 2114: Federal National Mortgage Assoc. to D. & E. Kerr, $153,000
Boas St., 219: D. Commins to A. Moyer, $136,000
Brookwood St., 2434: R. Hillman to The IRA Club & T. McDougal, $42,000
Calder St., 115: A. & M. Anselmo to Penn Real Estate Solutions LLC, $49,700
Calder St., 519: S. & M. Martin to J. Fisher, $100,000
Croyden Rd., 2778: PA Deals LLC to D. Blumenthal, $78,000
Derry St., 2712: L. & J. Burnette to D. Diehl, $72,000
Edward St., 243: A. Clionsky to D. & J. Ruscito, $200,000
Edward St., 504: S. Krum to D. & J. Kruzhilin, $88,000
Ellersie St., 2344: G. Rudy to V. Ramsey, $59,000
Fulton St., 1405: PA Deals LLC to S. Orwan, $110,000
Fulton St., 1937: B. Rodriquez & American Heritage Property Management to T. Gates, $43,800
Green St., 1414: S. Jusufovic to V. Reydams, $140,000
Green St., 1423: J. & V. Bates to R. Walter, $81,900
Green St., 1915: GRSW Stewart Real Estate Trust to J. & K. Johnston, $195,000
Green St., 1945: J.A. Hartzler to WCI Partners LP, $212,000
Hale Ave., 415: T. Pham & T. Vu to J. & J. Fickett, $59,000
Hamilton St., 238: J. Manzella to J. & M. Moritz, $135,000
Herr St., 127: R. Lake to C. Wagoner, $156,500
Hudson St., 1246: Bank of New York Mellon to PA Deals LLC, $47,250
Logan St., 1728: Wilmington Savings Fund Society to S. Eagle, $102,000
Maclay St., 245: N. Do to M. Cvetko, $30,000
Midland Rd., 2408: J. Jaxheimer to M. Boone, $179,900
Mulberry St., 1951: C. Campbell to E. & B. O’Brien, $51,000
N. 2nd St., 812: J. Swoyer to A. Meoli, $197,500
N. 2nd St., 1700: Metro Bank to Hopewell Estates 2nd Street LLC, $400,000
N. 2nd St., 2414: A. & G. Hall to R. Gist, $62,000
N. 2nd St., 2539: US Bank NA Trustee to D. Garber, $58,000
N. 2nd St., 2802: D. Skerpon & C. Baldrige to S. Gallagher & C. Prestia, $166,900
N. 2nd St., 3004: E. & T. Lukoski to 8219 Ventures LLC, $40,000
N. 3rd St., 1621: Wells Fargo Bank NA to Henly Homes LLC, $54,180
N. 3rd St., 2451: Triple J. Assoc. Ltd. To Hornby Zeller Properties LLC, $149,900
N. 5th St., 3204: Information Systems Networks Corp. & Secretary of Housing & Urban Development to T. Radcliff, $98,100
N. 16th St., 911: M. McManus to S. Sprinkle, $87,500
N. 18th St., 1116: P. & S. Mitchell to K. Wright, $70,000
Parkside Lane, 2922: A. Anderson to J. & B. Williams, $200,000
Race St., 562: Brady Daughters Realty LLC to S. Garnes, $153,500
S. 2nd St., 302: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to J. Pronio, $49,900
S. 17th St., 319: E. & L. Castillo to 4P Ventures LLC, $120,000
S. 29th St., 720: C. Karstetter to S. Maurer, $38,000
S. Front St., 709: R. Stevenson to D. Smith, $185,000
State St., 217: Medical Bureau of Harrisburg to D. Ragland, $110,000
State St., 231, Unit 303: LUX 1 LP to T. & D. Jensen, $121,000
State St., 1936, 1940 & 1942: L. & K. Price to M. & E. Duvall, $75,000
Susquehanna St., 1825: A. Tilley to M. Manley, $87,000
Susquehanna St., 2005: Kusic Financial Services LLC to M. Rioux & H. Perry, $68,000
Harrisburg property sales for May 2016, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
