Fitzgerald tosses reassessment...? (Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg, Braddock: sales, apartment, loan)

[wpipkins]

What about the people who live in declining city neighborhoods? Your home was previously assessed at $60,000.00 and overnight your home is assessed at $95,000.00. Your taxes will go up and you cannot possibly sell the home for the assessed value.

[BrianTH]

Point One is definitely more important than Point Two. I think the wealthy and/or politically active are going to be disproportionately represented in the increase group (more on that in a moment), but it may well still be that a majority of the upper-half of the household wealth distribution will get a modest tax increase. The problem is they are not as likely to rally to support politicians who comply with the reassessment.

But on Point Two, I do think the commercial property owners make a HUGE difference--maybe not so much in terms of numbers, but in terms of their ability to translate their interests into political action.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Bong477

Why not just wait until 2013 instead of rushing the process? Thinking lots of people will get tax cuts is purely speculative at this point in time given tax rates have yet to be set or released.

It isn't "purely" speculative. Assuming the anti-windfall laws are followed by the vast majority of jurisdictions--which is an assumption well-grounded in history as well as basic political logic--it is a certainty that MANY property owners will get a tax cut. Exactly how many depends on the numbers, but at least given the preliminary numbers released by the City, it is very likely that MOST property owners in the City will get a tax cut. And I think it is indeed speculation, but "informed" speculation, that a similar dynamic will play out in most parts of the County.

But my real answer to your question is that it would suck to let the County get away with its bad behavior. The County has deliberately delayed and in fact sabotaged this reassessment, and now is trying to use the predictable results of its foot-dragging to argue for an extension. So in addition to such an extension delaying tax justice for many, and probably most, property owners in the County, it would also be encouraging future bad behavior in similar circumstances.

I might note I think Wettick sees things the same way, except he is sympathetic to the taxing jurisdictions which are getting caught in the middle of all this. Unfortunately, the County may well succeed by effectively holding those jurisdictions hostage, but again that would suck as an outcome.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by wpipkins

What about the people who live in declining city neighborhoods? Your home was previously assessed at $60,000.00 and overnight your home is assessed at $95,000.00. Your taxes will go up and you cannot possibly sell the home for the assessed value.

The vast majority of property owners in declining neighborhoods are likely to see their taxes get cut, not increased. Note that doesn't mean their assessment went down (although in some cases it might)--it just means their assessment went up at a lower rate than the total property pool went up.

And in fact if their properties went up in value at a higher rate than the total property pool went up, that would call into question the assumption they are in fact living in a declining neighborhood.

[Copanut]

Mr. Fitzgerald is the classic politician. Weeks before he took office he voted for a 1 mill county tax increase. Upon taking office he throws out the new assessments that would have lowered taxes for a lot of people. Now EVERYONE in the county will see their taxes go up. Plus, 11 million tax dollars go down the drain.

Seriously, he mailed out the letters today? That is one quick printer.

[Geeo]

The politicians and the TV media have been feeding off each other through this. KDKA-TV just called it a "dramatic increase"when clearly it is not. At least the print media have been covering it more responsibly. Even with a 44% increase in my assessment, I would have seen a tax decrease. According to Chris Brown's blog, about 60% of people would have seen lower taxes.

[bboy36win]

..... * sigh * .....

[SteelCityRising]

Nice to see a politician catering to and pandering to stupid people who are already foaming at the mouth WITHOUT knowing what their new overall tax bills will be. That's something one never sees nowadays!

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Nice to see a politician catering to and pandering to stupid people who are already foaming at the mouth WITHOUT knowing what their new overall tax bills will be. That's something one never sees nowadays!

People get the government they deserve.

[BrianTH]

Decent article summarizing why Fitzgerald can't really win:

Experts say Fitzgerald runs risk of being cited for contempt of court

Two wrinkles I would add.

First, I don't see any inherent reason why Wettick has to go through Fitzgerald to do anything: he can issue orders to lower County officials, and if they don't obey he can also fine and/or stick them in jail. I kinda doubt the whole County bureaucracy really wants to lose a bunch of money and go to jail in a futile political gambit.

Second, it was pretty jerky of Fitzgerald to tell everyone to give up on informal appeals. I assume his logic is that he can effectively hold them hostage to keep Wettick from continuing with the reassessment process, but he might have tried this too early . . . there is still plenty of time for Wettick to put the informal appeals back on track.