Westmoreland commissioners reject call for property reassessment

Westmoreland commissioners on Thursday conceded the county’s property assessments are decades out of date but they rejected calls to modernize the system that controls valuations used to determine tax bills.

“I am still not in favor of a countywide reassessment. We can’t commit the money it will cost,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes. “I understand there is a need but I don’t think it is a foreseeable option.”

West Leechburg residents called for a reassessment at Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting. They claim 50-year-old property values result in tax rate inequalities among residents in the Leechburg Area School District, which includes homes in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties.

Homeowners in the Westmoreland County portion of the small district have seen their school tax bills increase over the last several years, in some cases by $600, compared to what is paid by Armstrong County residents without implementation of tax hikes.

Local officials blame Westmoreland’s tax assessments that have not been updated since 1973 and the state-mandated formula that calculates tax rates in school districts that cross county lines.

“We need your help, desperately. A lot of elderly people live in West Leechburg and we are hurting,” said resident Jimmy Feudale.

Karen Cockroft pleaded with commissioners to intervene.

“We are on fixed incomes and we can’t afford these increases,” Cockroft said.

West Leechburg residents and school officials have in recent weeks threatened legal action that could result in a court-ordered reassessment, similar to steps taken in other counties.

On Thursday, officials backed off on calls for legal intervention, at least for now.

Leechburg School District Superintendent David Keibler, who joined the lobbying effort with local residents, said continued discussions with county leaders identified other potential solutions short of a countywide reassessment that could ease tax burdens for the community.

“We’re now not sure that (a lawsuit) is something that needs to be done. After talking with the county it looks like that is probably not the right step to take right now,” Keibler said.

Camdon Porterfield, the county’s chief assessor, said other local school districts including Norwin, Belle Vernon Area and Riverview that cross over into other counties, don’t have similar inequities in tax bills. Officials believe property assessments are not to blame for what has occurred in West Leechburg.

“We think something is wrong with the way they calculate the rates,” Porterfield said. “It could very well be a math problem, but that’s not 100%. We know the assessments in Westmoreland County are outdated but that is not the cause (of what is happening) in West Leechburg.”

Commissioners have long conceded outdated property assessments are problematic but multiple boards over the years have put off plans to take corrective measures citing cost concerns.

A countywide reassessment is estimated to take four years to complete and cost upwards of $15 million.

“I am one year younger than our assessment values. It is inevitable we will have to do it either by choice or by fiat. I think it’s practical that we make sure we are ready for it. I am not advocating for it but we need to be prepared,” said Commissioner Ted Kopas.

Commissioner Doug Chew said he favors lobbying state lawmakers to remove the cost burden of reassessments from individual counties. He also called for a revision of the system that dictates how counties can generate tax revenue, suggesting a shift away from property taxes in favor of earned income levies, sales taxes and other methods.

“A lot of this comes back to the state,” Chew said.