Presenter
Presented by Mr. Udin
Title
Resolution authorizing and requesting the City Solicitor to take appropriate legal action to compel Allegheny County to provide certain assessment relief to the taxpayers of the City of Pittsburgh.
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to an order and under the supervision of the Court of Common Pleas, the County of Allegheny has completed a countywide revaluation of all real property located within Allegheny County which was implemented for the tax year 2001;
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is an intervenor and therefore an active participant in the litigation which ultimately resulted in the Court order directing the revaluation;
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Constitution, statutes and applicable case law require that a revaluation result in assessments which are uniform and which accurately reflect the actual market value of all properties;
WHEREAS, it is essential to the operation of City government that assessments be fair and accurate so that the Mayor and City Council can properly and confidently fulfill their duties under the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter to develop and approve an annual budget and to determine tax policy;
WHEREAS, the challenge of establishing an appropriate tax policy and budget (including the need to estimate the rate of tax delinquency) depends on receipt of reliable information from the County;
WHEREAS, it is in the interest of all parties that the City of Pittsburgh (and all other municipalities and school districts within Allegheny County) be given an opportunity to participate in an open process through which flaws in the revaluation are discussed and satisfactory solutions achieved, so that assessed values certified by Allegheny County for the year 2002 and subsequent years be fair, uniform, reliable and accurate;
WHEREAS, for yet another year, the County has produced assessment results which are confusing, illogical and, upon first review, unfair, and whereas, yet again, the arti...
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