Board supports release of funding for LHU alumni center

LOCK HAVEN - The Clinton County commissioners are supporting efforts by the Lock Haven University Foundation to have state funds released for the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center on campus, but one commissioner said he believes the center should be subject to property taxes.

The commissioners Thursday agreed to send a letter of support to Richard Dreher, director of the state Office of the Budget, to release $4 million in capital budget funding to help pay for the already-completed conference center.

The funding requires a similar $4 million match from the Lock Haven University Foundation for the 31,000 square-foot alumni building.

However, Commissioner Tom Bossert said the center should be subject to property taxes.

Before voting, the commissioners heard concerns from Richard Morris, temporary assessment appeals administrator, who said the support may lead to the county "denying forever" its opportunity to have the Foundation pay property taxes on the center.

"I think you would close the door to ever have discussions with the Foundation on taxing the real estate they own if you support this," he said.

The commissioners said they believe those two issues are not related.

The county and the Foundation have been at odds over the years on university properties the county believes should be taxed.

The county taxed the Foundation's student housing complex, Evergreen Commons.

That decision was upheld in local court, but later overturned in Commonwealth Court.

Another court battle may be looming as Bossert said the commissioners directed Chief Assessor Keith Yearick to send a tax bill to the Foundation for the Durrwachter Center, though he hasn't received confirmation Foundation officials received it.

"If they want to be in competition with other businesses, they should be subject to property taxes as well," Bossert said. "They should be good citizens and pay their property taxes ... If we have to pay the freight as private individuals, they should pay the freight, as well."

Long said the ruling by Commonwealth Court on Evergreen Commons likely set a precedent for other Foundation-owned buildings.

Mitzi Gallagher, legislative assistant to state Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Lock Haven, said Hanna supports the release of the capital budget funding for the project. She said the Foundation does pay unrelated business income tax on non-educational income at the alumni center.