Onorato may challenge assessments, again

From Len Barcousky at the courthouse:

Allegheny County officials are threatening to go back to court after the state Legislature halted Washington County's reassessment but allowed Allegheny County's to continue.

"It is utterly inconceivable to me that the General Assembly would consciously decide to enact a moratorium to help one county, while going out of its way to amend the legislation to deprive Allegheny County of the very same protection," County Council President Jim Burn said today.

In separate statements Mr. Burn and County Executive Dan Onorato said they are investigating the county's legal options in the wake of the Legislature's action.

Speaking on KDKA-AM radio this morning, Mr. Onorato said he believed the Legislature had violated the uniformity clause of the state constitution by passing a law that singled out Washington County for special treatment.

Allegheny and Washington counties have been ordered by Common Pleas Court to reassess all properties. Allegheny County's last reassessment was in 2002 while Washington County's property values date back to 1981.