Central York district denies Inch & Co. tax abatement request for WellSpan Sports Center

Posted by author February 20, 2025 Sports

Spread the love

Inch & Co.’s request for a tax exemption on their new sports complex was denied by the Central York School District.
The board ultimately voted against the tax exemption request.

Inch & Co.’s request for a tax exemption from the Central York School District for its planned $38.5 million sports complex has been denied.

Joe Eisenhauer, vice president of development and construction, attended last night’s business operations committee meeting and presented a slideshow regarding LERTA – a tax abatement program authorizing taxing authorities to provide a tax abatement for 10 years on construction improvements – before several board members.

The program authorizes authorize local taxing authorities to exempt new construction in deteriorated areas and improvements to deteriorated industrial properties.

The process would consist of a 10 percent exemption during the first year, with an additional 10 percent increments each year for 10 years. Employment statistics including the new jobs the complex would bring includes 51 new positions, with an annual mean salary of $49,720.

Last fall, Inch & Co. held a groundbreaking in September for the 250,000-square-foot sports and training center at the former Central York School District property in North York.

Throughout the presentation, Inch & Co. shared the benefits that the complex would bring the community, which they said has overwhelmingly supported the project since its announcement, including increased tourism, community health and job growth.

One slide showed previous LERTA proposals the district had approved in the past, and another made mention of the community support, which included a letter written by State Rep. Carol Hill-Evans.

“I am in full support of this investment into the York community proposed by WellSpan and recommend support for their effort to revitalize this part of the county,” the letter read.

During public comment, former school board member Eric Wolfgang said the complex could bring benefits to the community but not some that positively impact the school district.

“Yes, this project will provide additional opportunities for Central students and residents to have increased access to local indoor sports facilities, but there are no written plans for free or reduced cost use for Central students, families or residents,” he said. “Why would a district want to agree to significant tax break for a number of years with this development with no guaranteed tangible benefits for our students, families and residents?”

School Board President Amy Milsten said, “I cannot ignore the many, many emails that I have received before the November meeting and in advance of this meeting, none of which were in favor of granting a LERTA to this project.”

Milsten said she understands that LERTA is an incentive to develop in a certain area but believes it does not apply in this case because the location of the complex was established after multiple studies “without question.”

Ultimately, board members Corey Thurman, Amelia McMillan and Michael Stewart denied Inch & Co.’s request.

Company co-owner John Inch could not immediately be reached for comment.