Author: Lindsay

  • Property Tax Savings in Allegheny County – Homestead/Farmstead (Act 50) Exclusion

    Property Tax Savings in Allegheny County – Homestead/Farmstead (Act 50) Exclusion

    Allegheny County Act 50

    March 1st is the last day to submit your Act 50 Application to Allegheny County to be able to receive a deduction on the assessed value for your property tax in Allegheny County.

    How much can I save on annual property taxes in Allegheny County? $85.14

    If the property is your primary residence, you can apply and see a reduction of $18,000 from the assessed value of your property.

    Here is the example from the Allegheny County Real Estate website:

    Example 1 (Without Exclusion):

    A property is assessed at $100,000. The property tax would be $473.00 year:

    Assessed Value multiplied by the Tax Rate = Tax Owed
    $100,000 x 0.00473 = $473.00


    Example 2 (With Exclusion):

    The same property receives an $18,000 Homestead Exclusion. This same property now has an assessment of $82,000 and the tax owed is $387.86 – a savings of $85.14:

    Assessed Value minus the Homestead Exclusion multiplied by the Tax Rate = Tax Owed
    $100,000 – $18,000 = $82,000 x 0.00473 = $387.86

    How to Apply for the Homestead & Farmstead Exclusions in Allegheny County

    1. Check the Allegheny County Real Estate Website to see if you have already applied. You only need to apply once.
    2. Fill out the Act 50 Application and print. You can download a copy of the application here: ACT 50 Homestead Farmstead Exclusion Application.
    3. Submit the Act 50 Application to Allegheny County
      1. By MAIL – must be postmarked by March 1
        1. Office of Property Assessments
          542 Forbes Ave., Room 347, PITTSBURGH, PA 15219
      2. By FAX – 412-350-5796 or 412-350-6084
      3. In PERSON – Office of Property Assessments, 542 Forbes Ave., Room 347, PITTSBURGH, PA 15219

    For more information, visit the Allegheny County Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion webpage.

  • Guide to Pittsburgh Substack Newsletters

    Guide to Pittsburgh Substack Newsletters

    Looking to stay connected with Pittsburgh’s vibrant community of writers, creators, and local experts? Here’s a curated list of Substack newsletters by Pittsburgh writers.

    Know of another local Substack that we should add to the list? Please let us know by filling out this form!

    Directory of Pittsburgh Substack Newsletters

    • A Good Time with Casey Barber – Casey Barber is a food lover who was born and raised in Pittsburgh. She writes about food and fun things and should be on your radar because she wrote the book “Pierogi Love.”
    • A More Perfect Region – The Substack newsletter from the Pittsburgh Futures Collaborative, a nonprofit that works on coaching leaders to make Pittsburgh a region where everyone can thrive.
    • Breathing Space – Virginia Monantez, aka Jane Pitt, has been tweeting and writing about Pittsburgh since the internet was born. In addition to providing a humorous look at local events, she is a published author and also writes about local history.
    • Buried Ledes by Bobby Cherry – Journalist Bobby Cherry curates news stories and other interesting information. He is a super fan of Sheetz and also maintains a website about Christmas.
    • Facts Over Fear: Natalie Bencivenga – Natalie Bencivenga is a Pittsburgh journalist and host on KDKA radio.
    • Joyful Chaos with Rachel Ekstrom Courage – Rachel Ekstrom Courage is a literary agent and author based in Pittsburgh.
    • Pittsburgh Art Book Fair – The Pittsburgh Art Book Fair (PABF) is a free celebration of printed matter featuring over 60 local, national, and international exhibitors. Co-presented by Carnegie Museum of Art and Pittsburgh Art Book Fair.
    • Pittsburgh Pizza News – Dan Tallerico is a Pittsburgh pizza expert. Subscribe for the scoop on the best slices in the ‘Burgh.
    • Pittsburgh Startup News – Updates, events and news about Pittsburgh startups.
    • Pittsburgh Tech Beat – Austin Orth publishes a monthly roundup of Pittsburgh tech news.
    • Pittsburgh’s Green and Gray – Laura Zurowski writes about Pittsburgh parks and photography.
    • Rootbound – A newsletter exploring gardening, plants, people, culture, history and the way that we’re all connected.
    • The Hazards of Love – Katie Oldaker is one of the organizers of Pittsburgh’s Queer Craft Market. The Hazards of Love focuses on writing projects.
    • The Latest From Littsburgh – Littsburgh is a website and newsletter celebrating Pittsburgh authors and local literary events.
    • The Modern Rabbi – Thoughts from Rabbi Seth Adelson, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Shalom in Pittsburgh.
    • Trumplessness – Journalist Annie Saunders provides a round-up of news stories.
    • Weed Church – Casey Taylor writes about religion, art, technology and cannabis.
    • Yinz Vote – Yinz Vote is on a mission to empower every Pittsburgher with the information they need to vote on election day.
    • You Have Left the Planned Route – Book reviews and recommendations, personal essays, and commentary on politics from Melissa Firman.

    Subscribe to the IheartPGH Substack!

    Please take a moment to subscribe to the IheartPGH Substack too!

  • Volunteer Here: 2024 Albright Thanksgiving Eve Dinner

    If you have been a long-time reader of IheartPGH, you know that this is one cause I support each year.

    The Albright Thanksgiving Eve dinner is a free community meal that was first organized by a Boy Scout Troop that met at the Albright United Methodist Church in Bloomfield. Members of the Albright congregation and members of the community have kept this tradition going and 2024 is the 50th Anniversary of the Thanksgiving Eve Dinner.

    2024 Thanksgiving Eve Dinner Details

    • ️ Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024
    • ⏰ Time: 5:30 PM
    • Location: First United Methodist Church Social Hall 5401 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 (Enter above the Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library)
    • All are welcome to attend!
    • The dinner is completely free. Just show up.

    Volunteer Information

    Looking for a place to volunteer? Come join us!

    We need help with cooking, serving, dishes, and lots more. Families are welcome to volunteer.

    Check out the 2024 Albright Thanksgiving Eve Dinner FAQ for more info.

    Want to help? Fill our the Friends of Albright Volunteer form.

    Donate!

    You can help support the Thanksgiving Eve dinner by making a contribution to the Friends of Albright GoFundMe page. (I am one of the founders of Friends of Albright. Friends of Albright is a project of New Sun Rising, and all donations made to Friends of Albright through the GoFundMe page are tax deductible.)

    Help me reach the goal of 50 donors!

    I have set a personal goal of getting 50 different people to donate to the GoFundMe campaign in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the meal. If you would be willing to donate $5 or $10 (or more!) that would be great!

  • And… we are back!

    Hello, Pittbsurgh. Nice to see you again.

    Thanks to the support team at Pair Networks for getting us back online.

    We’ve got a little more sprucing up to do. For now, please visit YinzVote.com for all the election information. Oh, and you can check out the IheartPGH Substack for updates.

    Yinz Vote stickers