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County to districts: Assessment work slow
Last week, an attorney for the Washington and McGuffey school districts filed a motion with the court noting that nearly two years have passed since they first took the matter to court.
Susan Key, the attorney for the school districts, said she contacted county representatives on Sept. 30 to find out what steps the county had taken.
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.
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They have interviewed reassessment firms, but have not chosen a firm to carry out the task, which is estimated to cost about $7.5 million at a time when the county faces a $6.5 million deficit.
President Judge Debbie O'Dell Seneca ordered last year, as part of stipulation between the county and the school districts, that barring legislative action or an appellate court ruling, she wanted to see the commissioners undertake a property reassessment within their current terms, which expire Dec. 31, 2011.
A bill related to property assessment has passed the House, but it requires Senate action before the end of this year or it will die in committee.
The commissioners have urged legislators representing Washington County to impose a moratorium on reassessments.
If the county reassesses property while the matter is in limbo, "it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars," said Commission Chairman Larry Maggi. "We just don't have it to spend. We have a deficit of $6.5 million."
The county will also be negotiating new premiums for its employees' and retirees' health insurance, and news of the costs on that front is not expected to be good.
County Solicitor Lynn DeHaven, in formulating the county's response to the school districts, intends to tell the court that the commissioners are fully complying with the court order.
The county's last reassessment, completed in 1979, took effect in 1981.
The president judge has scheduled a status conference and oral argument for Dec. 14, two and a half weeks before the commissioners approve next year's spending plan.
In formulating the county's 2010 budget, Finance Director Roger Metcalfe is making provisions for borrowing money to conduct a reassessment. Unlike other debts, the county can amortize the repayment of the cost of a reassessment over just 10 years. It can take longer to repay other debts.
The county has also begun contract talks with its largest unions, whose pacts expire Dec. 31.
Related articles:
Attorney for Washington, McGuffey schools looks to spur promised reassessment
Pa. delay affects county budget
Wait continues for county on reassessment go-ahead
Property reassessment proposals begin
Home
: 11/5/2009
They'll lose money if they reassess now! Wherre is all the tax relief from the casino???
Joke : 11/5/2009
This is all a joke. Let's all raise property taxes to help schools have even fatter budgets. Perhaps the people at the school should spend their money on education as opposed to paying a lawyer. I would contend that schools have too much money at their disposal. If they would tighten up and run their schools more efficiently they would have more than enough money. But that's government for you. I guess everyone likes paying higher taxes and spending more money.
re-assessments. : 11/5/2009
does anyone really understand the shady dealing reason behind re-assessment or even re-districting (aka "jury mandering") - is to make so one gets votes in their favor (or legal leupole way to control the outcome to one's benefit, not to the fellow people's benefit.) interesting excerpt on this in mark levin's liberty & tyranny book.
Union Greed : 11/5/2009
Union-Driven-Greed. It's time to eliminate proprty taxes for citizens, and follow the exmple set in West Virginia.
mindless : 11/5/2009
look at your school tax bill- it's already there! No one ever said the casino would eliminate property taxes- just help lower them. This uninformed yinzer argument is getting so old...
: 11/5/2009
What union greed??
Assessment : 11/5/2009
The irony of this kills me…these districts spending taxpayer money to take even more tax money. Washington, it is time to merge with Trinity. McGuffey installs an artificial surface on their football field and they try to me to pay for it by raising my taxes. I live in North Bethlehem Twp (Bentworth). This is ridiculous.
Assessments : 11/5/2009
I'm all for these re-assessments. The housing market is down and the value of our homes has significantly dropped...yippee - reassess at actual value and I'll be getting a tax cut! If you think my home is magically worth more, I'll be happy to sell it to you !
