New muni millage rates (Pittsburgh, Hampton: 2013, homes, neighborhood)

[Velvet Jones]

Has anyone else gotten their new municipal tax bills yet? If so, was your millage properly adjusted to reflect the increased or decreased overall assessed values? My township saw an increase in assessed values of over 30%, yet my local millage only went down less than 10% and the township is claiming their overall property values decreased. Something stinks here. I was expecting to see close to a 25% decrease, now I'm wonder if the SD is also going to try and pull the same BS. According the the counties own website millage rates should be proportionately reduced based on the increases in assessed value.

[Goinback2011]

What, you mean politicians lied about reassessment being 'revenue neutral'? Get out.

[Hopes]

If you look at the list of township millage rates on the Allegheny County website, you'll see that many of the townships haven't set their millage rates. School rates won't be set until the end of June.

Allegheny County Treasurer

Mine township millage rate only went down .1%, which shows a slightly lower tax for the median property value in the township. The problem is that most of our property values increased, which means our taxes will go up significantly with only a .1019% decrease.

Allegheny County Community Profile

It's pretty darn scary to wonder what will happen with the school district tax. Our only possible hope is the fact all of our school board members are homeowners in our townships. Then again, our township commissioners are all homeowners too and that didn't stop them from raising taxes.

Some people are lucking out. South Fayette went significantly down from 384.00 to 348.00. Maybe South Fayette School District will be fair to them too.

I suspect there will be a new wave of people hopping the border for better taxes.

[Burghgirl17]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Some people are lucking out. South Fayette went significantly down from 384.00 to 348.00. Maybe South Fayette School District will be fair to them too.

I couldn't believe the Township went down. Not holding my breath on the School District, particular with all of the building going on.

[Velvet Jones]

Originally Posted by Hopes

If you look at the list of township millage rates on the Allegheny County website, you'll see that many of the townships haven't set their millage rates. School rates won't be set until the end of June.

Allegheny County Treasurer

Mine township millage rate only went down .1%, which shows a slightly lower tax for the median property value in the township. The problem is that most of our property values increased, which means our taxes will go up significantly with only a .1019% decrease.

Allegheny County Community Profile

It's pretty darn scary to wonder what will happen with the school district tax. Our only possible hope is the fact all of our school board members are homeowners in our townships. Then again, our township commissioners are all homeowners too and that didn't stop them from raising taxes.

Some people are lucking out. South Fayette went significantly down from 384.00 to 348.00. Maybe South Fayette School District will be fair to them too.

I suspect there will be a new wave of people hopping the border for better taxes.

The township taxes have been set for some. They are obviously set for my location, as I got my bill already. Lowering the millage rates really isn't optional, it is required by law. Based on the chart on the country website, all but a handful of muni's saw their overall assessment go up, with a large chunk being 10% or more. The millage rage should go down by a rate equal to the increase in assessed value. I know when the last reassessment occurred several townships and school districts tried to get away with a revenue increase. The state sued them and they had to issue refunds. I hope this does not have to happen again. I know some of these SB members and council members are always the sharpest tools in the shed, but the law is very clear in the matter.

[robrobrob]

If you want someone to help you out you probably need to state the municipality where you live.

[Velvet Jones]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

If you want someone to help you out you probably need to state the municipality where you live.

I prefer to keep my location a well guarded secret. Too many CD stalkers, I don't need anymore fans.

I already know my new millage and what the county claims was the overall increase in assessed values for my township, the two values do not match up. The county website however does not have all of 2013 muni/city millage rates posted yet. Only a few are listed. Hence my general question.

I guess the link above is another example. Hampton had a 28% increase in assessed values, yet their local millage barely budget. Something does not seem right here.

2012 - 2.5045
2013 - 2.4026

[ML North]

Millage rates will NOT decrease by the same magnitude that reassessments increased for two reasons:

(1) Net revenue can generally increase by 5%, as provided by the relevant anti-windfall law; and
(2) This may be obvious, but there's an arithmetic issue: for example a 50% increase is offset by a 33% decrease.

[mckeesport_alum]

My Pittsburgh property taxes went down even after a hefty assessment:

2012: Assessed at $108,000 (after homestead), paid $2,630 to Pittsburgh
2013: Assessed at $130,000 (after homestead), paid $2,148 to Pittsburgh

They basically added $20,000 - $30,000 to the land value in my neighborhood. I'll take it...

[Velvet Jones]

Originally Posted by ML North

Millage rates will NOT decrease by the same magnitude that reassessments increased for two reasons:

(1) Net revenue can generally increase by 5%, as provided by the relevant anti-windfall law; and
(2) This may be obvious, but there's an arithmetic issue: for example a 50% increase is offset by a 33% decrease.

I'm really not following you. Yes, there is some offset and the muni can pass a 5% increase after determining the new base value. That still doesn't explain some of the numbers that have appeared so far. The decrease in millage is obviously proportional at the county level, yet several munis had overall increases in assessments that were well above the county wide number, yet they barely decreased their millage at all. This should not be possible. The base rate is suppose determined in a way that would be revenue neutral from the previous year.