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Attorney for Washington, McGuffey schools looks to spur promised reassessment
However, Larry Maggi, chairman of the board of commissioners, said Friday that the commissioners are considering asking President Judge Debbie O'Dell Seneca to delay the stipulation that required the commissioners to begin a reassessment by Sept. 30.
Susan Key, the attorney representing Washington and McGuffey school districts in a suit that led to the stipulation, filed the motion Thursday.
"I'm trying to compel them to do what they promised to do," Key said, adding that "in my opinion, I've seen no evidence" of progress.
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Key said she contacted county representatives on Sept. 30 to find out what progress had been made. The county responded in a letter that "some action had been taken, however a vendor had not been hired, the reassessment had not been commenced and the county does not anticipate that the reassessment will be completed within the current term of office, as required by the order of the court," her motion states.
County solicitor Mary Lyn Drewitz said, "We believe we've complied with the court order and taken substantial steps." The county has contracted with a company for aerial photography of properties and done other research.
The county has 20 days to file its response to Key's motion, and Maggi said the commissioners will discuss asking for a delay.
The state House in August passed a proposal that would put a moratorium on all court-ordered reassessments, to give the General Assembly time to try to reform the tax-assessment system. The legislation is now in the Senate, and Maggi said legislators believe that it may pass.
"We don't want to be spending a million dollars right off the bat for reassessment and then the state issues a moratorium on it," he said. "It would be a waste of taxpayer dollars."
Complicating the issue is the preliminary 2010 county budget, which shows a $6.5 million deficit that the commissioners must deal with.
"There were some things in there beyond our control," Maggi said, including increases in the pension contribution and health insurance costs, and the reassessment.
Maggi said the pension contribution will rise almost $2 million in 2010, while health-care costs will rise by about $1.5 million. The initial steps toward reassessment would be about $1 million, with the entire project estimated to cost between $6 million and $8 million. In addition, the county faces contract negotiations with its two largest unions.
In order to close the budget gap, Maggi said, "everything is on the table," including tax increases and layoffs. He said 165 of the county's 603 workers would have to be furloughed to balance the budget without a tax increase or lower expenditures.
Key said the moratorium legislation has not yet passed the Senate, and even if it does, it may be unconstitutional.
"The thing is, the commissioners are never going to voluntarily agree to reassess," she continued. "That's why we had to file the lawsuit. The law is clear that when the assessments in your county are no longer uniform, there has to be a reassessment."
O'Dell Seneca set a status conference on the reassessment for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 14.
At a Republican House Policy Committee hearing on Thursday, Republican Whip Mike Turzai predicted that the state will take action on reforming the property assessment system by 2011.
The pressure is on the Legislature after the state Supreme Court ruled that Allegheny County's use of a base-year value assessment system was unfair. Many counties, including Washington County, use the same system.
The last reassessment in Washington County was completed in 1979.
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Wait continues for county on reassessment go-ahead
Property reassessment proposals begin
County cautious on reassessment
County delays property evaluation process
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Washington, McGuffey schools looks to spur promised reassessment : 10/31/2009
So we have Washington and McGuffey using taxpayer dollars to pay for an attorney so that they can raise taxes. Notice that none of the other Washington Co schools have jumped on the band wagon. Washington & McGuffey residents: VOTE OUT THE INCUMBENT SCHOOL BOAD MEMBERS
Reassessment Order : 10/31/2009
My thanks to the Commissioners for watching out for the taxpayers.
Not a tax increase : 11/2/2009
Reassessments are not a tax increase. In every county in the state (except Philly and Allegheny), the law requires a reduction in tax rates to match any increase in overall market value. Taxing bodies don't get one red cent more money. Reassessment is about reducing taxes on the 1/3 of taxpayers paying more than their fair share while increasing the taxes only on those who have been underpaying for years.
o Tax Increase? : 11/3/2009
County Property Taxes will be raised to pay for the Millions of Dollars to pay for this property assessment. How else are they going to pay for it? But dont kid yourself, The Wash High and McGuffey School districts did not use taxpayers money to sue the county to break even on the School Tax! They are looking for an increase in School Taxes!
