Allegheny County (PA) Real Estate Assessments Pending

The reassessment of real estate in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, will go into effect in 2006.  All properties in Allegheny County will be subject to reassessment and, in many instances, assessments and the subsequent property taxes will be dramatically increased.

Allegheny County has adopted legislation that is intended to limit an increase in the assessed value of a property to no more than 4 percent. One taxing body has already filed a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County challenging this cap. A hearing is set for May 10, 2005, and it is uncertain whether this legislation will survive such a challenge.

The new assessment notices will be mailed soon, though the court has asked the county to hold off mailing the new assessments until following the May 10 hearing. The deadline to file assessment appeals is currently May 31, 2005, though we understand that the deadline may be extended.  You can view the new assessments online at https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Services/Property-Assessment-and-Real-Estate.

Accordingly, we are recommending that property owners whose proposed assessments have increased substantially consider filing an appeal by the deadline to protect their ability to have a hearing in the event that the cap is eventually rescinded or found to be invalid.

We would be pleased to discuss the effect of the reassessment on any property you or your business own in Allegheny County and whether it is appropriate for you to file an assessment appeal.

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