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Ordinance providing a procedural addition to Chapter 207 of the Administrative Code requiring amendment of the Rules and Regulations Governing Appeals, specifically related to Rule IV on Hearing Procedures, to include a section that provides for further appeal to the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals & Review when an appellant who has filed for a reduction receives an increase in assessment.
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Whereas, Allegheny County’s Home Rule Government has granted great levels of autonomy and independence to the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals & Review Board while retaining the legislative power to establish parameters, such as procedural aspects, within the Legislative and Executive branches; and
Whereas, the purpose of the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals & Review is to provide a timely, affordable and effective forum for resolving questions of real estate assessed value; and
Whereas, some appellants seeking reductions in their property assessment are receiving increases following their appeals with no additional opportunity to appeal other than filing with the Court of Common Pleas; and
Whereas, said increases are occurring because hearing officers have sought out higher-priced sales of comparable properties after the appeals hearings, denying the property owners the opportunity to respond; and
Whereas, existing rules provide that a hearing officer shall not consider, accept into evidence or make a part of the record any report, appraisal, etc. which is not presented prior to or at the hearing.
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Article II, Chapter 207, Section 207.06 of the Administrative Code is amended to add Subsection I: “Appeals of Property Assessments, Appeals & Review Board decisions to that body when an appellant who has filed for a reduction receives an increase.”
Section 2. The Board of Property Assessment, Appeals & Review is hereby directed t...
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