EDINBORO - The General McLane School District and the five municipalities that comprise it could be seeing an increase in population over the next several years thanks to Local Tax Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA) that was agreed upon by the separate entities.

The LERTA, which is for both residential and commercial development, would be used to entice families, individuals and businesses to move into Washington, McKean and Franklin townships as well as Edinboro and McKean boroughs.
According to the LERTA, anyone wishing to build in the school district’s five municipalities could be eligible for the LERTA,which states that the incoming inhabitants would not be required to pay school, local or county-level taxes for three years.
All the new inhabitant needs to be eligible for the LERTA program is for their property to be homestead/farmstead eligible. For a home to be homestead/farmstead eligible, it must be owner occupied and must be a single-family home or condominium. It must be constructed in an area which is designated by the LERTA. In McKean and Washington townships and McKean and Edinboro boroughs the LERTA approved construction areas will be R1, R2 and R3 (residential) zones. Franklin Township will permit construction anywhere.
Anyone interested in building a new home is encouraged to contact the offices of the municipalities for any questions concerning potential lots. To contact the Home Rule Borough of Edinboro call (814) 734- 1812. McKean Borough can be reached at (814) 476-1691 while McKean Township may be reached at (814) 476-7414. Those interested in building in Washington Township should call (814) 734-3117. While Franklin Township does not have regulations, interested builders can call (814) 734-3521 with any questions.
The final day to apply for a residential LERTA will be Dec. 31, 2014.
Richard Scaletta, superintendent of General McLane School District, began pushing for a LERTA within the district in hopes of increasing enrollment, while also bringing in new businesses. Because of this, General McLane’s website www.mclaneadvantage.org will have maps available to be checked out.
Builders interested in McKean and Washington townships as well as McKean Borough will also receive a five-year graduated tax exemption. The exemption will be 100 percent during the first year, with the following years decreasing from 80, 60, 40 and 20 percent. The final day to apply for a commercial LERTA in these ares will be Dec. 31, 2016.
For information concerning the residential and commercial LERTAs within the General McLane School District, look for future editions of the Edinboro News.
Chris Roth may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at (814) 756-4133.