Butler County commissioners hired an attorney Wednesday, March 11, to help define the differences between townhouses and condominiums in a dispute over taxes to assist the planning commission.

The commissioners hired attorney Brian Farrington of Charlton Law of Sarver for $250 per hour for up to 20 hours to help interpret Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code for the planning commission.

Developers have different interpretations of the code, as it pertains to condominiums and townhouses, said Mark Gordon, the county’s economic development and planning chief.

Although similarly constructed, the two types of dwellings are taxed differently, he said.

Historically, condominium owners own their condominiums, but condominium associations own the land they are built on, he said.

Townhouse owners own their townhouses and the land, he said.

“We’re trying to get some additional interpretation of that as it applies to the MPC,” Gordon said.

The dispute arose because real estate tax bills are being sent to condominium developers, not condominium owners, said Leslie Osche, board of commissioners chairwoman.

Commissioners also approved a compliance acknowledge statement regarding the transfer of a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant to the county to help pay for a $4 million garage for emergency services vehicles that the county plans to build next year at the 911 center in the Sunnyview complex in Butler Township.

The county plans to use $2.07 million in RACP grants reallocated from other projects that never came to fruition as the match for a $2 million grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development for the garage.

The RACP grant funded projects that never came to fruition are a $1.6 million police and ROTC building project at Slippery Rock University, and $475,000 for a Jeep museum once planned by Experience Butler County.

After taking action on the items on the meeting agenda, the commissioners once again heard from residents opposed to the agreement Sheriff Mike Slupe signed with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to assist with immigration enforcement. Six people spoke against the agreement. Osche suggested that they speak with Slupe.