LETTER: Farmers still suffering from reassessment
In her recent letter, Washington County Commissioner Electra Janis points out that Washington County did not raise taxes last year, which is great for residents and businesses.
It is only fair and truthful to point out that many farmers in Washington County are still suffering from the massive increase in property taxes due to the reassessment in 2017. The taxes on my farm increased over 100% and the thing that is really unfair is that the increase was mainly due to the land values increasing because of gas and oil rights.
My farm sits in Peters Township, where drilling is banned. So basically, I am being taxed for my gas and oil rights, but I am not allowed to get them.
Washington County simply shifted much more of the county’s tax burden onto the farmer and that is not fair.
Bob Simmons
McMurray