Civil Municipal - April 2024

Environmental sustainability is a top priority for the Borough of Archbald, and it actively promotes recycling to the public. The borough publishes a recycling calendar to guide residents on specific recycling weeks and practices. However, the landscape has shifted in Pennsylvania, particularly in Lackawanna County. Previously, the local recycling center used county inmates as labor, enabling the borough to recycle for free. The inmates’ safety concerns led to a shift. Now, paid employees sort through commingled materials, with each municipality charged $60 per ton. This contributes to state grants, supporting ongoing recycling efforts, equipment acquisition, and educational initiatives. Along with home ownership comes taxes. In Pennsylvania, the Borough Code dictates the maximum property tax millage a borough imposes. Municipalities, including Archbald, near that limit. Surprisingly, the county has not reassessed property values since 1968. Dan Markey, Manager of the Borough of Archbald says, “They started it a few times but as it nears completion, elections happen, and new county commissioners come in and they put a stop to it.” The law of thirds assumes a third of the property values will increase, a third will decrease, and a third will stay the same. Assessments for homes built in recent years are correct but are overtaxed compared to their neighbors a quarter mile down the road. Even with extensive remodels, those neighbors may receive $500,000 for their property, but the assessments for their homes remain at $12,000— figures from 1968. Lackawanna County has one of the highest median 44 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 04