The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled today that Allegheny County must reassess its property values.
The unanimous decision on the cases of Clifton et al and Pierce et al v. Allegheny County -- argued before the court in September -- states that the base year method for property valuation, as applied in the county, violates the uniformity clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution. In 2005 County Executive Dan Onorato set property values at 2002 levels to avoid a tax hike on property owners with rising values.
Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/09119/966406-455.stm
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
6 comments:
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Why didn't anyone mention the School Board Candidates Forum from Monday night?
ReplyDeleteIt was mentioned multiple times in posts dealing with the School Board candidates.
ReplyDeleteSo if Allegheny County's system doesn't work, what about the all of the other counties using a base year system? Why are we the only ones in violation?
ReplyDeleteFrom the Pocono Record http://tinyurl.com/co9tzb
ReplyDelete"Because the court didn't rule the county's 'base year' assessment system illegal, other counties using the same system won't necessarily have to stop doing so..."
The State Supreme Court doesn't seem to care about the taxing fairness documented in the State Constitution.
I think the county should appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
There will be no appeal to the US Supreme Court, because the PA Supreme Court was ruling on an issue of state law.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the case goes back to the lower court for implementation and possible supervision of a remedy, and there is always the possibility that there will be further appeals of what Judge Wettick decides next.
Maybe we should all move out of Allegheny County to get away from Judge Wettick!
ReplyDelete