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Michael Young Editorial: 1-13-12 Enough

Enough.

There has been enough political posturing.

Enough angst.

Enough confusion.

Elected officials have thumped their chests and sufficiently screwed up the appeals process to make their point.

They don't like property taxes – and they really don't like reassessments.

Neither do the rest of us.

But it's the system we have – and only the state legislature can change it.

So let's get on with the appeals so we can find out what everyone really wants to know –

What will our tax bill be?

A Pitt economist – Chris Briem - crunched the numbers.

He believes two out three homeowners in Pittsburgh and Mount Oliver will actually see their property taxes drop.

Why?

Anti-windfall laws require school districts and other taxing bodies to change their millage rates – so that any reassessment is revenue-neutral.

Briem may be right – but no one will know for sure until the property values are set.

That won't happen until the appeals process is complete.

We've already lost half of January.

Enough already.

Resume the informal appeals.

Begin scheduling the formal appeals.

Let's sort this out – and move on.

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