With the possible acquisition of the former Giant Grocery Store property in Pottsville by Schuylkill County, Senator Dave Argall has announced legislation to keep similar properties on the city's tax roll.
For nearly a month, an ongoing battle has been occurring in the city of Pottsville between city officials and county officials over Schuylkill County possibly purchasing the former Giant property on Progress Avenue.
While there are rumors of the property being turned into a release center for the Schuylkill County Prison and it being with a revitalization area, the city of Pottsville is also opposing the idea because the city would lose tax revenue due to the property not being privately owned.
City officials have expressed their concern to county officials, but no official information other than the property was recently appraised has been reported.
On Monday, Senator Dave Argall announced he would be introducing legislation to prohibit Counties from similar purchases from cities that need the tax revenue.
As Senator Argall stated in a message to his fellow State Senators as he looked for co-sponsorship, "As a former chairman of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, I learned firsthand the importance of assisting our third class cities in keeping properties on the tax rolls. I plan to introduce legislation which would require counties to cooperate with cities in their efforts to revitalize their communities."
Argall goes on to say that the legislation he is proposing would amend the County Code to prohibit a 4th class county from purchasing a property in a third class city, if the property is located in an area of the city targeted for revitalization, unless the affected city and school district have passed a resolution approving the purchase.
The Pennsylvania State Senate is next scheduled to be in session the week of September 8th, 2020.