An upcoming seminar lead by Founding Partner Bob Peirce for Allegheny County property owners appealing controversial tax assessments was recently profiled in an article published by PublicSource.
As reported in the article, a lawsuit brought by Allegheny County property owners challenging how taxes are calculated after assessment appeals is winding down and bringing a big change to the county’s tax math. That change is expected to result in a roughly 20% decrease in tax bills compared to those issued under the county’s prior method for calculating property taxes. Homeowners who file appeals could see even more savings by tapping into the homestead tax exemption.
In an interview with PublicSource, Bob Peirce discussed how the benefits for property owners are likely to prompt a flood of assessment appeals:
“There’s a lot of interest regarding the lawsuit regarding the Common Level Ratio that may give thousands of people reason to appeal their assessments.”
And while Peirce told PublicSource that homeowners like him, who live in homes purchased before 2012, may not be able to use the new CLR to shave their tax bills, property owners hit with assessment increases after buying in more recent years may benefit from appealing.
Educational Sessions to Help Property Owners, Attorneys with Assessment Appeals
To help property owners and the attorneys representing them better understand the appeal system, Bob Peirce will be leading an Allegheny County Law Library educational session on assessment appeals.
The seminar will take place on Monday, August 15th from 1:00pm to 3:00 pm at the Allegheny County Law Library in Pittsburgh. The seminar is free for the general public and will have a virtual option for those who can’t attend in person.
With extensive experience in matters of real estate assessments, Bob will cover key considerations when filing an appeal, how the process works, and how to prepare for hearings. The seminar will also include a mock hearing and discussion about the current lawsuit involving common level ratio (CLR).
For homeowners, Peirce will also cover issues related to:
- How to find comparable properties that recently sold for market prices for the purpose of approximating a market value.
- How to calculate and determine whether an appeal that resulted in that market value would raise or lower tax bills.
- Considering whether it’s necessary to hire an appraiser to professionally estimate market value.
- Evaluating whether you should hire an attorney or handle the appeal on your own.
You can learn more about Allegheny County Assessment Appeals seminar lead by Bob Peirce and register to attend here.