Letter to the editor: Weinstein for county executive
I’m voting for John Weinstein for Allegheny County executive on May 16. Weinstein gets it. Under law, the assessment office is run by the executive as chief assessor.
Is the assessment office prepared to reassess 585,000 parcels? Nope. Although I favor cyclical reassessment, Allegheny County government keeps moving the goal post:
• 2000 annual reassessment
• 2002 reassessment every three years
• 2005 base-year system that freezes values
The base year system is brittle and unconstitutional with no plan to update values. The courts will fix that.
Weinstein believes the county isn’t ready (to reassess) because of the recent sales coding scandal caused by the present administration. He’s right.
Weinstein will improve the appeals system. Part-time board members cut red tape lengthwise … and ignore evidence about low assessments the street. This frustrates owners who want a fair shake. Weinstein believes uniformity is a stronger argument on appeal than chasing sales.
Court evidence shows an unqualified chief assessor and others manipulated data that raised taxes on appeal.
Weinstein favors an earlier appeals deadline that will permit taxpayers and taxing bodies to budget correctly.
He is the best county executive candidate to fix administrative problems in the assessment process.
Michael J. Suley
Scott
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