We need regular reassessments
The recent reassessment in Washington County is almost over and municipalities are working on their 2017 budgets.
According to the Nov. 25 edition of the Observer-Reporter, three municipalities have given their proposed tax rates. North Strabane Township plans to reduce its real estate tax from 9.98 mills to 1.03 mills in response to the new reassessment. South Strabane proposes to keep its 2016 rate of 7.5 mills and increase it by 1.5 mills to a total of 9 mills, and the City of Washington proposes to retain its current real estate tax at 107.63 mills and its building-only tax at 3.5 mills.
The reassessment has proven two things. First, county commissioners in the future need to have reassessments every 10 years; and no matter how much we had hoped the current reassessment would bring all real estate values up to their true market values, the results will never be perfect.
Pennsylvania’s legislators and governor agree real estate tax assessments are not good for our state. When can we expect this tax to become obsolete when it comes to supporting education and community services?
Joann Diesel
Washington