Stay updated with breaking news from Mike Suley. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Throughout Allegheny County, waves of mall owners, hoteliers, office park operators and big-box retailers are stampeding to slash taxes by challenging their property assessments. But as property owners keep winning big breaks, they’re also creating big headaches. The more the owners succeed, the more they’re choking off critical revenue for
Pittsburgh Public Schools is suing Allegheny County. The goal: to get a court-ordered tax reassessment.
"Forty-nine other states have cyclical reassessment; Pennsylvania does not," said one member of Allegheny County's appeals board.
Collectively, they represent roughly $200 million in reductions. That's tax revenue on which the city and public schools in Allegheny County depend.
Members of the State Tax Equalization Board lowered the percentage rate at which properties can be assessed in the appeals process.