Highlands posts names of delinquent property taxpayers

As warned, the Highlands School District released the names of those delinquent in their school district property taxes.

The lists for the four communities within the school district — Brackenridge, Fawn, Harrison and Tarentum — were posted to the district’s website on Tuesday.

That was one day later than expected. According to a notice from the school district, the delay was caused by “the unexpected volume of last-minute taxpayer installment agreements.”

Property owners owing taxes to the district were able to get their names removed from the lists by paying what they owed or setting up a payment plan.

According to the district, it is owed about $11. 8 million in unpaid property taxes. However, the district marks nearly $4 million of that as not collectible, leaving a net total amount of about $7.8 million.

The lists include hundreds of property owners, some with multiple delinquent properties. Amounts owed range from as much as about $124,000 for one owner with nine parcels in Harrison, to as little as an owner listed as overdue for 15-cents for a parcel in Brackenridge.

Harrison has the most in unpaid property taxes, totaling about $5.1 million, with about $3.3 million that is collectible. Harrison is followed by Tarentum, with a total of about $3.6 million, and a collectible amount of about $2.4 million.

In Brackenridge, a total of $1.9 million is owed, with a collectible amount of about $1.3 million; in Fawn, the total is $1.2 million, with a collectible amount of about $786,000.

The district shows more than $2 million that is being paid under installment plans — about $993,000 in Harrison, $553,000 in Tarentum, $288,000 in Fawn, and $283,000 in Brackenridge.

The school board in March approved publishing the list of delinquent property taxpayers, originally set for April 1. The law firm of Weiss Burkardt Kramer, which also is the district’s solicitor, collects delinquent property taxes for the district.

Tarentum Council also approved publicizing the names of delinquent borough property taxpayers. The borough still plans to post its list to its website on May 1, borough Manager Michael Nestico said Tuesday.

“The tax collector and borough officials have been working to compile much of the older information, which is not digital,” he said. “I believe the project is almost complete.”

Borough property tax delinquents also can avoid public disclosure of their names by paying what they owe or getting on a payment plan.