Collier Township earlier this month lowered its property tax millage rate, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying less taxes.

The commissioner voted earlier this month to lower its tax rate from 3.5 mills to 2.73 mills, according to township Manager Sal Sirabella.

The decrease was required by state law after Allegheny County conducted a reassessment and sent each municipality certified property values in December. The communities must remain “revenue neutral” so they do not generate a massive windfall from the assessment.

Overall, the township’s certified property values increased by a little more than 30 percent, according to Chartiers Valley School District Business Manager Nick Morelli.

The numbers could still change, however, since some property assessment appeals are still being decided.

The millage decrease recognizes that change and also allows for a 5 percent “anti-windfall” increase to the millage rate.

To calculate your new township property tax rate, take your new assessment value and multiply it by .00273. That means someone with a new assessment value at $100,000 would pay $273 in township property taxes in 2013.

If your property assessment increased by 28 percent, you will pay about the same in township property taxes as you did in 2012. If your assessment was more than 28 percent, you will pay more taxes. If it is under that level, you’ll pay less in township taxes.

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