Reassessments

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11006/1115934-53.stm
Support Chuck McCullough for County Executive to bring a positive change to Reassessment issue in Allegheny County:
Chuck McCullough, a Candidate for County Executive had introduced Property Taxpayer Bill of Rights legislation while he was on County Council:
1. Anti-windfall protection - would enable the County to enforce revenue neutrality requirements of state law.
2. Protection against mass appeals by taxing bodies - would curb "sale chasing" mass apppeals by charging local taxing bodies a $100 per property fee for each appeal.
3. Restore the taxpayer's right to have an appeal before a new assessment and higher tax bill go into effect.
4. Right of reimbursement for appraisal expenses - any residential taxpayer who succeeds in obtaining an assessment reduction of at least 15% would be reimbursed for appraisal expenses up to $150.
5. Right of the taxpayer to demand an on-site verification of a new assessment by the county.
6. Right to proportional increase in County Homestead exemption to reflect the overall increase in assessed values countywide due to a re-assessment.
7. Protection against "sticker shock" re-assessments by limiting the increase in assessed value due to a re-assessment to no more than 9% in each of the first two years following a re-assessment, with the balance in the third year.
8. Right to self-report the assessed value ala the income tax (state and federal), wage tax, inheritance and federal estate taxes by permitting the property owner to submit an appraisal or evidence of recent sale in lieu of a re-assessment.
9. Right to uniform application of the re-assessment - this would reduce the Predetermined Ratio (PDR) to reflect the overall percentage increase countywide of assessed values thus reducing everyone's assessed value by a uniform percentage instead of the current 100% market valuation.

Also, Chuck McCullough went to court in Feb, 2011 on behalf of himself and 3 other Republicans on County Council to get a stay of the reassessment - the Judge said he would have considered if this had been a formal action of County Council.

Reassessment Notices will start arriving July 1, 2011

Franklin Park Borough Solicitor, Max Junker informed us at the last meeting that the Reassessment Notices will be arriving starting July 1, 2011. He is one of the Attorneys championing the Reassessments, working with Judge Wettick. Since the current assessments are based on 2002 base year, our property assessments are sure to go up, resulting in yet higher taxes. It is now doubly important to attend North Allegheny School Board Meetings to make sure they cut their expenditures for their new year starting July 1, 2011. Next meeting date is March 23, 2011 at 7 PM at the Administration Offices in Carson Middle School Building.

Stop North Allegheny School from raising taxes AGAIN

Stop North Allegheny School Board from raising our Property Taxes Again on July 1, 2011. Attend the following Board Meetings and ask questions. Board Meetings are held at the Admin Offices in Carson Middle School Building at 7 PM:
http://www.northallegheny.org/

Meeting Dates: March 23, April 20, April 27, May 18, May 27, June 15 and June 22

Final Budget will be ready on May 18, 2011 . We need to see NA School Board cut expenditures to match current income without any increase in property taxes.

We hope to have 1,000 people present at the June 22 NA School Board Meeting to show solidarity against ever increasing School Taxes.

$40,000 Bump in Teachers Pay at North Allegheny

Teachers pay at North Allegheny School District jumps by $40,000 per annum. For example, Teachers in category: A BS in Step 15A get paid at the rate of $57,780 during the First Semester and in the Second Semester, their pay rate increases to $94,700 per annum.
Teachers pay increases in the 15th year by about $37,000 to $40,000 per annum according to the Sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, I have received from the NA School District.
It is no wonder that our School Taxes are increasing every year.