Politics & Government

Allegheny County Could Be Overcharging Taxpayers

County Controller Chelsa Wagner said on Thursday that the amount could be about $50 per average household.

An analysis by Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner has revealed that the county could be on track to overcharge the average household by $50 in property taxes in 2013.

"There is a strong possibility, from the data we have analyzed, that the county is on track to gain a windfall of as much as $38 million," said Wagner, a former state representative for the district that covers part of Whitehall Borough and all of Baldwin Township, in a statement issued on Thursday. "I am calling on the administration to publicize every detail of their millage calculation to assure all taxpayers that no windfall will occur. No resident of Allegheny County should be overcharged one cent or $1, let alone $50 or more for the county's failure to act."

Wagner also expressed concern over the lack of transparency and available information surrounding the county's current, adopted 2013 millage rate. Wagner urged immediate action by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and the Allegheny County Council to protect taxpayers and to avoid breaking state law.

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In December 2012, the county council lowered the tax rate for county property owners to 4.73 mills. That rate, which Wagner referred to as "arbitrary or preliminary at best," was adopted prior to the county's receipt of certified assessed values of all county properties, which were completed in late December.

While the pre-reassessment value was $59 billion, Wagner said that these values revealed a total taxable property value of $80 billion. She questioned why the county did not adjust its millage after the release of the final values like other taxing bodies did.

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City of Pittsburgh officials decreased their millage rate by 29 percent, and Pittsburgh Public Schools officials lowered theirs by 31 percent to avoid windfalls.

State law prevents municipalities from receiving monetary gains, or "windfall," from a property reassessment. Wagner said that she believes that the county's millage rate should be adjusted down by as much as 0.5 mills to a rate of 4.23 to comply with the law. A rate of 4.23 mills would represent an overall county reduction of 26 percent.

Using the current assessed valuation of $79.6 billion, which includes adjustments from appeals already conducted, and the current millage of 4.73, Allegheny County is on target to take in $361.6 million of revenue—$38.2 million higher than revenues in 2012. By using Wagner's proposed rate of 4.23 mills, the county could keep revenue in line with 2012's property tax revenue of $323 million. The additional reduction of 0.5 mills translates to $50 in county taxes returned to taxpayers for every $100,000 of assessed property value.

"Fifty dollars is a few family meals, a tank of gas or two weeks' worth of bus fare," Wagner said. "This is a very significant amount for any taxpayer. Frankly, no amount is insignificant, but an average of $50 per household is outrageous."

Wagner said that the issue boils down to fairness and transparency.

"Taxpayers are entitled to know, in no uncertain terms, that there will be no windfall in accordance with state law that is in place to protect them. Very simply, we deserve some answers."

In the coming weeks, Wagner said that she will revive a previous controller's program called "Windfall Watch." Initiated by former Controller Dan Onorato, Wagner will track millage rates for every municipality and school district in the county to ensure that all rates are adopted in accordance with all state and local laws.

Fitzgerald held a press conference on Thursday afternoon to address Wagner's concern. He said that he remains confident in his proposed millage rate that was approved overwhelmingly by the county council. The nature of the process requires assumptions and estimates to set the millage rate, Fitzgerald said, but the numbers that were used are based on historic data and previous numbers.

The chief executive said that the process was open and transparent. At the county council's November Budget & Finance Committee meeting, the county manager—former Baldwin-Whitehall School District Business Manager William D. McKain—and budget director presented the calculations and final recommendation in full detail. The two also answered all questions posed by the council and met individually with council members, as requested. That committee meeting was also attended by Wagner.

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