REMINDER: Fitzgerald, Palmiere to Talk Assessments at Baldwin H.S.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and county council member  will speak at a town hall meeting at the  auditorium on Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. The topic: .

All county residents are invited to Baldwin High that night to hear Fitzgerald and Palmiere discuss the issue and are encouraged to share their own thoughts, as well.

Palmiere, who lives in and runs a business—Palmiere's Hair Center—in Brentwood Borough, represents District 6 of the Allegheny County Council, which includes Brentwood, Baldwin Township, South Park Township, the City of Clairton and the boroughs of , , Castle Shannon, Pleasant Hills, Jefferson Hills and West Elizabeth.

In addition to the Baldwin H.S. auditorium being equipped with microphones, speakers and large display screens, the space's outer lobby and hallway areas will have tables and chairs in them to be utilized for individual one-on-one sessions with other county staff members, who will be on hand to assist property owners with filling out various forms.

Legal and real estate professionals will also be present to provide free one-on-one advice and assistance.

The town hall meeting itself will include a presentation that explains the county's reassessment process, how to file and prepare for informal reviews and formal appeals, and other options for reducing assessed values. There will also be a Q-and-A period.

No registration is required to attend the meeting, and the session is free and open to all.

The average increases in property values for the 2013 court-ordered reassessment for all municipalities, school districts and the county as a whole can be found on the county website to assist property owners in approximating their 2013 taxes.

Visit www.alleghenycounty.us and click on the "Property Assessment Information" link. Then, click on the relevant box on the page that opens from there.

If a property owner's 2013 court-ordered reassessment value is lower than the average of his or her municipality, school district or the county, he or she should see a reduction in the corresponding municipal, school district or county property tax in 2013.

If a property's owner's 2013 court-ordered reassessment value is higher than the average of his or her municipality, school district or the county, he or she may see an increase in the corresponding municipal, school district or county property tax in 2013.

The average increase for Baldwin Borough is 27 percent. The average increase for Whitehall Borough is 26 percent. The average increase for Baldwin Township is 39 percent. And for the , the average increase is 27 percent.

Allegheny County's average increase is 35 percent.

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