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11/4/2009 3:33 AM

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Two school districts have asked a Washington County judge to force a countywide reassessment of property. The McGuffey and Washington school districts believe they stand to gain tax revenue when property is re-evaluated, which hasn't been done for 30 years. Despite an agreement reached in court a year ago to begin a reassessment by Sept. 30, the county commissioners are dragging their feet, asking the court for a delay. And they are doing so for good reason.

Reassessing every single dwelling in the county is an expensive and contentious undertaking. The county has already spent about $146,000 on aerial photography and will need to come up with about $1 million to launch the process. In the end, reassessment could cost as much as $8 million, and this coming at a time when the county is facing a $6.5 million deficit.

No doubt, reassessment is needed. Much has changed since 1979, when the last one was done. At that time, Jimmy Carter was president, inflation was approaching 12 percent annually, a new Toyota Corolla cost just $3,698 and the average wage was $6.19 per hour. The housing market is different; neighborhoods have changed. But there's a good reason not to do it now.

The state Legislature, which admittedly doesn't have a reputation for getting much of anything done, may actually act soon on reforming the tax assessment system in Pennsylvania. A bill to that effect is now in the Senate. Should it pass into law, any money spent by the county could end up wasted.

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It is easy to understand the impatience of the school districts, but the court should allow the county more time before embarking on this course.

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