The Judge overseeing the implementation of Allegheny County’s highly publicized reassessment issued several key orders the second week of February.  First, in response to the apparent refusal of the County’s newly sworn in Chief Executive to implement the final stages of the reassessment the Judge issued a clear warning that all County officials were to abide all of the Judge’s Orders relating to the reassessment and a failure to do so may result in being held in contempt of court.   The Judge also affirmed the existing schedule for formulation of values and mailing notices to taxpayers.  This schedule, at present, has reassessment notices being mailed to all property owners no later than March 1, 2012.

The second major development occurred when the Judge granted a request by the City of Pittsburgh Public School District to permit them to utilize the assessments from year 2011 instead of the newly issued 2012 reassessment values in order to establish their millage rates for 2012.  This was done in order to address what was characterized as a serious budgetary issue which could result from a budget based on 2012 reassessment values prior to the conclusion of what is anticipated to be a large number of 2012 assessment appeals.  Pursuant to the Judge’s orders the new reassessment values determined in 2012 would first be used for tax purposes in 2013.  The Judge indicated he would be extending these measures to all other school districts and municipalities in the county once the reassessment of additional areas of the County is completed.

Finally, the deadline for appealing 2012 values for the City of Pittsburgh tax assessment was extended from February 10, 2012 to February 24, 2012.  The appeal deadlines for all other areas outside of the City of Pittsburgh have yet to be established and will depend on the timing of the mailing of notices in these areas.

If you have any questions, please contact tax appeal attorney Donald Walsh at daw@mbm-law.net.

Alfred Maiello

Alfred C. Maiello is the founding member of MBM and has represented area school districts as solicitor for 50 years. He counsels school districts and educational institutions on leading developments in school law and guiding them through their day-to-day and long-term challenges.