Allegheny County Council Introduces Bill to Streamline Property Reassessment Appeals Process

Allegheny Co. Council Introduces Bill to Simplify Property Reassessment Appeals Process

Allegheny County Council is making moves to streamline the appeals process for property reassessments with the introduction of a new bill. The bill, introduced by four county council members, aims to make it easier for property owners and county municipalities by simplifying the property assessment appeal process.

Under the proposed legislation, property owners would have 60 days to appeal decisions made by the county in the event of a property value change due to a reassessment. This would give property owners more time to challenge assessments they feel are inaccurate. Additionally, the bill would give municipalities more time to assess the impact of reassessments on their budgets.

One key change proposed in the bill is that for the 2025 tax year, appeals would need to be filed six months earlier than before, by October 1, 2024, rather than March 31, 2025. This change aims to provide more time for property owners and municipalities to adjust their budgets accordingly.

The bill comes after a recent investigation revealed that commercial property values in the City of Pittsburgh are on the decline due to assessment appeals. This has led to $1.8 million in refund checks being issued, potentially impacting the city’s finances. However, city officials state that they have budgeted for this decrease in revenue and are prepared to make adjustments as needed.

Tonight, County Council will hold a hearing where the public can comment on the ongoing lawsuit filed by Pittsburgh Public Schools regarding countywide reassessment, something that has not been done since 2012. This bill aims to provide a solution to the complexities of property reassessments and appeals, benefiting both property owners and municipalities in Allegheny County.