Open Letter: Reassessment Information from Edgewood Council

Message to Residents of Edgewood borough Regarding Allegheny County Reassessments:

A number of residents have contacted the borough with questions regarding the reassessment appeals process and the impact on the 2013 millage.  

In response, we are providing answers to those questions and resources to assist you in determining a course of action. This information will also be on the borough website.

How can I appeal my reassessment if I feel it’s too high?

This must be done by the homeowner. If you intend to appeal your assessment values, you can obtain information from the County Website http://www2.alleghenycounty.us/reval/. The website provides information regarding your assessed property value and properties used in comparison. Those who wish to appeal their assessments should do so by April 2, 2012.

The county has offered to provide appeals workshops in various areas of the county. Edgewood borough, in cooperation with the , has requested to have an appeals workshop here. We are awaiting a response from the county.

How do I determine if my taxes will increase or decrease?

The reassessed values for county property will affect the millage rates in Edgewood for the tax bills of the Borough, County and that use property values to establish millage rates. Basically, if your property value increases by more than the average with respect to a taxing body, you will pay more taxes to that taxing body. If your new value is less than the average, you will pay less. It will not affect the borough’s income tax rate of one percent.

What does the new reassessment mean for borough millage rates?

The certified value of Edgewood borough has yet to be confirmed. Due to the expected number of appeals, the certification we do receive will change following the appeals process. By state law, the millage rate for the borough of Edgewood must be revenue neutral following utilization of the new assessment values. If the borough council determines a need to increase the millage rate following reassessment, it must do so through a separate vote and the increase cannot exceed five percent. As an example, if the current assessed value of all Edgewood properties was $1,000 with a 2.0 millage rate and the reassessed value was increased to $2,000, the millage rate would fall to 1.0. A five percent windfall limitation would mean the millage at most could be increased to 1.05 following a council vote.

Edgewood’s budget will continue to be frugal in the spending of our tax dollars to provide public safety, to repair and maintain borough infrastructure and to provide other needed services.

How can I find out the percentage changes of Edgewood and neighboring municipality’s values?

At this time, Edgewood has not received a certified total value from the County in writing. The Post-Gazette reported the percentages for municipalities in the eastern suburbs in a story on February 7, 2012  (www.post-gazette.com/pg/12034/1207824-56.stm). The Post-Gazette has reported average increases for Allegheny County and the Woodland Hills School District in other articles which you may find through their online search tool.

Why hasn’t the Borough passed a resolution that opposes this reassessment?

As we've seen from the inability of the county executive's efforts to stay the reassessments, any resolution made by council on behalf of the residents of Edgewood opposing the reassessment would not change, delay or extend or stop this court-mandated process.