Modernizing Property Tax Assessments in Allegheny County

(prohousingpgh.org)

24 points | by mooreds 1 hour ago

2 comments

  • doublepg23 51 minutes ago
    Unexpected to see this talked about on HN.

    I actually went through the Allegheny county “newcomer tax” just some months ago.

    It was a bit of a strange process to appeal (I lost; my house is very weird for the area).

    While I do see the benefit for not raising taxes so consistently for long-term owners (and could definitely see gentrification-esque effects) it does seem like a pretty obvious - if bitter - pill to swallow if the area is going to have any chance of continued growth.

    • happytoexplain 22 minutes ago
      Continued growth to what end...?
    • trollbridge 30 minutes ago
      If the only way to have growth is to kick out the existing inhabitants, one wonders what the purpose of “growth” is.
  • tobadzistsini 40 minutes ago
    Why don't they go back to their riff on land value tax? Property taxes are regressive and stifle growth, development, and improvements.
    • mlinksva 23 minutes ago
      Agreed as does the org putting out the linked paper https://www.prohousingpgh.org/blog/policy-land-value-taxes

      And if you read the linked paper, particularly the "Effects of Reassessments on Split-Rate Taxing Bodies" (split rate being the riff you're referring to), making land value assessments more accurate of course makes land value taxation more appealing.

    • whatever1 25 minutes ago
      Property taxes are the only thing that can redistribute wealth from landlords to the working people.

      Your company definitely bought / financed it, so it is clear evidence of your financial means at the purchase time.

      Businesses that own land don't pay federal taxes, they can just declare 0 profit every year while paying for range rovers for the owners.

      • xvedejas 16 minutes ago
        Property taxes have a component that redistributes wealth from landlords to the working people, but it also has a component that penalizes making better use of the land. The former is usually called "land value tax" and the latter is the part of the tax that is proportional to the improved value of the land. The latter part incentivizes some uncertain amount more towards mcmansions and away from multi-unit buildings.