Letter to the editor: Allegheny County’s discredited newcomer tax scheme

“I’m from Allegheny County government, and you can trust me.” This is what we expect when we pay our property taxes.

The Pennsylvania Constitution mandates uniformity in the way tax bills are divvied out. Assessed values haven’t changed in 10 years. County leaders say they could remain frozen for another 10 years. If you freeze assessments without periodic updates, you’re asking for trouble.

OK … we can trust new homebuyers will be treated fairly until the next reassessment. Right? It doesn’t work that way in Allegheny County. Assessors reviewed and validated newer sales under complicated state law. Frozen 2012 values are compared to recent sales which provide uniformity.

A lawsuit against the county argues this system favors the county. The county must prove real estate values have only increased 4.5% in the last 10 years. In other words, the county must argue the real estate market is flat, well, like the earth. This is the reason new homeowners receive 40%-50% tax increases from these calculations. The 2022 appeals will see 100% tax increases. Go figure.

Some data show an appreciation rate of 40% during this period. That’s 10 times the county’s calculations! If the homeowners win, their newcomer tax increases on appeal would be cut in half.

Anyone who lost an appeal in 2021 should appeal to the county appeals board in 2022. It may be a calculated risk, but may reduce the tax burden until the next court-ordered reassessment.

Mike Suley

Scott

The writer, a former Allegheny County manager of the Office of Property Assessments, is a tax assessment consultant.