Pa. Gov. Corbett vetos propoerty reassesment process bill

A costly property reassessment process is in store for two western Pennsylvania Counties, even though two state task forces may offer recommendations to change the way assessments are done.

It’s expected to cost Washington County about $8 million dollars for a property reassessment.

That’s taxpayer money Republican State Representative Rick Saccone of Allegheny and Washington counties was hoping to save for a year.

He sponsored the bill that would have given all counties–under court order to do assessments–the chance to wait and see what reforms the task forces recommended.”Let’s say we come up with a different idea and it’s a really good one at the end of our little study and we say, ‘gee’, and they say, ‘I really wish we could have done it that way,'” said Saccone. “Do we have to do it again, and spend another $8 million and do it again the new way?  Why don’t we just wait and see what the ideas are, and then proceed accordingly?”

The Senate amended Saccone’s bill, but in so doing, the measure was made so county-specific as to be considered unconstitutional.  Governor Corbett vetoed it on those grounds.

Lebanon and Allegheny counties are also under court order to do a property reassessment-–Lebanon County’s assessment began in April.