Blog

Three More Executive Orders Related to Affordable Housing Issued

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Our last blog discussed Executive Orders 01 and 02 related to the work of the Affordable Housing Task Force and three more came late last week on the same subject.  The new orders direct various officials and departments as well as independent authorities (the URA is mentioned again, as well as the Pittsburgh Land Bank) to focus on various recommendations from the Task Force.

One recommendation directs the Finance Director to work with Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Public Schools to:

“Evaluate the potential for a uniform property tax assessment appeals policy for those appeals initiated by any of the three taxing bodies so as to limit any unexpected tax increases to City residents that disproportionately harm elderly residents and those residents living on fixed incomes.”

As we noted in the blog and in a Brief last year, the Task Force was directed to come up with something regarding appeals following the Mayor’s decision to withdraw 2016 appeals and issue a moratorium on new ones, but did not, so the Executive Order 05 looks to do something regarding appeals that might take place on a property in the City of Pittsburgh, realizing that one of three taxing bodies could choose to file an appeal on a property.  As noted in a 2016 newspaper article, the City went after properties they felt were underassessed by 50% or more and the County did not appeal values.  The School District appealed commercial properties where they felt was an assessment that was 85% lower than market value and residential property that sold for above $500,000 and were subject to that same standard, based on communications with the District.

So the charge to the Finance Director is to talk to the other two taxing bodies and find common ground.  The county could say “don’t do appeals, we don’t” but try convincing the District of that.  The City could say they would follow the District’s appeal standard (assuming that did not change).  Or the City could make its case for appeal policy that contains new elements to the District and the County (assuming the County wants to enter the appeal business).

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Allegheny Institute
Allegheny Institute

The Allegheny Institute is a non-profit research and education organization. Our mission is to defend the interests of taxpayers, citizens and businesses against an increasingly burdensome and intrusive government.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Weekly insights on the markets and financial planning.

Recent Posts