With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Tom Hempel won the Republican primary for North Huntingdon First Ward commissioner against challenger Brian West. Hempel received 59% of the vote. With 100% of precincts reporting, Jason Atwood won his primary for Third Ward commissioner against Republican challenger Amy Ghetian. Atwood received 54.3%
The latest chapter in whether North Huntingdon residents are permitted to raise chickens could end next week. Commissioners are likely to vote on a request from Megan Jovar of Lancelot Drive for a conditional-use permit to keep the seven hens she has in her backyard and a request from Sarah
North Huntingdon property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes in 2021.
The commissioners on Wednesday approved setting the tax rate at 11.55 mills for the $14.7 million general fund budget.
Commissioner Jason Atwood was the lone opposition to setting the tax rate at 11.55 mills; Atwood and Commissioner Eric Gass opposed approving the budget.
Atwood said last week during a special meeting he had wanted to raise taxes by about 2 mills to cover a budget deficit rather than transferring $1.14 million from the fund balance to provide enough money to cover expenses in 2021.
Atwood had blamed previous boards of commissioners for failing to raise taxes to cover expenses, rather than dipping into the fund balance.