New Reassessment Development (Harrisburg, Washington, Penn: real estate market, how much, home)

[Lobick]

This is really interesting. Anyone more plugged in to Harrisburg have any idea why it was changed just to apply to Washington County? Seems to me this strengthens Allegheny County's argument that to reassess on their own would hurt the County's competitiveness.

Bill passed halts Washington County reassessment

Another recent update vie Reed Smith:
A Tale of Two Counties (http://www.reedsmith.com/publications/search_publications.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.con tent_view_1&cit_id=31650 - broken link)

[BrianTH]

Unlike Washington, Allegheny has already been paying for its reassessment, so there is no reason to stop now.

Incidentally, I think a reassessment will help, not hurt, Allegheny County when it comes to competitiveness. Due to the state anti-windfall laws, the overall tax burden won't increase (outside of the possible increases the school districts can take anyway). And redistributing the tax burden in light of current values should take some friction out of the real estate market.

[gg]

When is the Allegheny County informing the residents of the new assessment? When does it take effect? Sure seems to be a mess. Wish it would get tied up in court for a couple years or so.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

When is the Allegheny County informing the residents of the new assessment? When does it take effect?

According to the Reed Smith update, they are now looking at after September for informing owners. As of now it should still take effect for the 2012 tax year, but the schedule gets tighter with each delay (although I suspect the court won't tolerate further delays).

[gg]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

According to the Reed Smith update, they are now looking at after September for informing owners. As of now it should still take effect for the 2012 tax year, but the schedule gets tighter with each delay (although I suspect the court won't tolerate further delays).

September. That is good news. Thanks.

How is Reed Smith involved? Are they trying to delay it?

Sorry, I haven't been following this topic very well. Guess, I was just assuming I would be in court soon for the third time on my current home that I have only lived in for a couple of years or so, but I guess I would like to know how much time.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

How is Reed Smith involved? Are they trying to delay it?

They called that a "Client Alert". I don't know what that means, but it could just be something they put together for clients who might have real estate holdings in the County, not for specific litigation purposes.

[Lobick]

The previous Reed Smith update on the King's Bench petition filed by Allegheny County:

The Latest Developments in Allegheny County's Anticipated 2012 Countywide Re-Assessment: County Council Asks the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for a Stay (http://www.reedsmith.com/library/search_library.cfm?FaArea1=CustomWidgets.content_v iew_1&cit_id=30976 - broken link)

[BrianTH]

You never know, but I don't give that petition much chance of success. From the perspective of the courts, it is the other counties which are hurt by their lack of a reassessment, not Allegheny County. Accordingly, while a person in another county now might be able to persuade the court to adopt a uniform test for whether a reassessment should be performed (due to the lack of action on this issue by the legislature), people in Allegheny County (or the County itself) don't have a direct stake in that issue, because they are already getting their reassessment.

[Copanut]

The project probably won't be completed until April of 2012.

[Lobick]

Apparently they told Wettick it may be another year:

County assessments delayed again