Allegheny County’s Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review is performing a disservice to taxpayers. The board shut the entire hearing process down indefinitely. Its solicitor says it is a “waste of resources” to continue having hearings until a court appeal is resolved. The county executive has publicly said it was difficult to plan finances while an appeal is going on.
I attended a recent meeting where the supposedly independent, unbiased, quasi-judicial appeals board was informed by another agency of government that the scheduling and hearing of appeals was halted. The board’s solicitor gave a half-baked reason why it should be done even though 7,000 appeals have already been heard. There is no date set to schedule the remaining 3,400 appeals. Advantage — school districts.
Over 95% of those appeals are taxing body appeals. If the new lower ratio is applied, thousands of those decisions would favor the taxpayer with a lower tax bill. Here’s the rub: The hearing freeze favors the taxing bodies, who can opt out and withdraw the appeal. There is nothing the homeowner can do but continue to pay an artificially high tax bill this year.
There should be an investigation of these actions. People will lose confidence if they believe a judge is taking sides.
Hearings should be scheduled now. If the school district withdraws now, it’s a signal that the taxpayer may be entitled to a refund. The board should end this ruse and do its job.
Mike Suley
Scott
The writer, a former Allegheny County manager of the Office of Property Assessments, is a tax assessment consultant.