If you're a property owner in UC, more than likely you've just been hit with
a 7.5% real estate assessment increase, which will translate into a 7.5% tax
increase come 2008.
There's an appeals process.
If you're thinking of appealing, it would be a good idea to check out the
following:
1. Philadelphia Forward has a website that will show you an estimated
current value of your property based on recent nearby "comparable" sales. This
is a standard method of determining market value, and although it's got more
holes than the pseudo-Swiss variety of sweetbarkingcheese, it's a starting
point. This site also shows you wnat your tax would be under a few scenarios
assuming the city goes to full market value assessments in the future (as they
are
under state orders to do). The web site is:
_http://www.philadelphiaforward.org/reassessment_results/_
(http://www.philadelphiaforward.org/reassessment_results/) .
2. Check out the article at xxx. It's by a New Jersey tax attorney, and
the gist of it is that if you want to appeal, the burden of proof is on you
and not the city to show the value. They're presumed to be right. Of course,
this is for New Jersey (but Pennsylvania is unlikely to be much different). And
it's also one lawyer's opinion, so other experts (which sometimes includes
lawyers) may hold alternate views. The web site for this is:
_http://www.njlawblog.com/2007/02/articles/real-estate/real-estate-tax-appeals-who-has-the-burden-of
-proof/_
(http://www.njlawblog.com/2007/02/articles/real-estate/real-estate-tax-appeals-who-has-the-burden-of-proof/)
Always at your service with helpful information and opinions worth
considering (however you finally decide)
Al Krigman
This information is provided to the [EMAIL PROTECTED]
(mailto:UnivCity@list.purple.com) discussion group. If anybody reposts it on
the
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) group, it's
because they can't do any scratching around for information themselves.
************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
