Potter County Emergency Services Department reports that all eligible fire and emergency response organizations in the county successfully completed applications for state grants to help with expenses related to construction or renovation, purchase or repair of equipment, training, and debt reduction. Grants of $15,000 were awarded to the following ambulance associations: Austin, Coudersport, Gale Hose of Galeton, Genesee, Roulette, Shinglehouse, and Tri-Town of Ulysses. Kettle Creek Ambulance of Cross Fork received $4,133. Firefighting organization grants were $12,018 for Genesee, Germania and Kettle Creek of Cross Fork; $12,664 for Goodyear Hose of Galeton and Shinglehouse; Austin, $13,310; Coudersport, $15,461; Harrison Township $13,740; Roulette $12,879; and Tri-Town of Ulysses, $13,309.
Potter County Tax Assessment Office has added more than $1.3 million to the county’s tax base over the past 12 months, due in large part to Chief Assessor Jacob Ostrom’s field work to locate and document new construction and property improvements. The increase in assessed value of $1.3 million computes to another $7.6 million in market value being recorded. The county’s real estate tax base is now $362.7 million (assessed value), which reflects an approximate market value of nearly $2.1 billion. That does not take into account the more than 40 percent of real estate that is tax-exempt, due to ownership by the state or other exemptions. As a result of the field work, school district, municipal and county real estate taxes will yield additional revenue to the respective government bodies.
This year’s increase was lessened from those of recent years due to multiple factors, ranging from building demolition and disabled veterans’ tax exemption to destruction from the remnants of Hurricane Debby last August and a larger amount of acreage being enrolled in the state-mandated “Clean and Green” program, which reduces tax assessments on farmland, forest land, pastures and other open space.
Ostrom’s job grew harder several years ago when the state legislature eliminated the position of township and borough tax assessor. In prior years, these elected officials were responsible for finding and reporting new construction and improvements. Today, the Assessment Office relies primarily on building permit records and visual inspections to update tax records.
Dozens of public offices that have a major impact on life in Potter County will be filled during the 2025 election cycle. Positions on school boards, borough councils, boards of township supervisors and many other influential offices will appear on ballots. Registered Republicans and Democrats will choose their nominees during the Primary Election on May 20. Those who are nominated will appear on the Municipal Election ballot for all registered voters on Nov. 4. A list of all offices on the May 20 Republican and Democratic ballots can be found here. General information on elections and voting is posted on a state-operated website, votespa.com.
Here are some important dates for the May 20 Primary Election:
- March 11— last day to circulate and file nominating petitions
- May 5— last day to register, change party affiliation or report change of address
- May 13— last day to apply for mail-in or civilian absentee ballot
- May 20 (Election Day)– last day for county boards of elections to receive absentee or civilian mail-in ballots (by 8 pm)
Those with questions about petition circulation and the election process can contact the Potter County Elections and Voter Registration Office at 814-274-8467.