It is one plan on the table to spur redevelopment in Whitehall Township.
"Whitehall has not been able to attract a lot of incentives up until now," said Howard Leiberman, Director of the Whitehall Township Industrial and Commercial Development Authority.
The incentive Leiberman is talking about is called a "Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act" or LERTA for short. It would be used to bring new life to commercial industrial and business properties like Lehigh Valley Dairy on MacArthur Road and the former Thomas Ironworks just north of Dark Town.
"LERTA is a tax abatement program so it helps the developer in cash flow," Leiberman said. "The real estate taxes that would be attached to a new development would be deferred over a 10 year period of time."
Owners of the buildings would continue to pay the taxes they pay now.
However if the LERTA program were to be approved, increased taxes as the property is developed would be incrementally phased in over 10 years. Therefore, the LERTA program would work as an incentive to develop those properties.
"The only disadvantages to be considered are those revenues don't go to the taxing authorities over the LERTA period," Leiberman said.
If LERTA is approved by the Whitehall Township commissioners, the proposal will go to the county and school district for their consideration.
Leiberman expects the Whitehall Township commissioners to discuss the incentive program Monday night.
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