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Onorato Could Pursue Lawsuit Over Reassessments

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May 6, 2009 9:09 pm US/Eastern

Onorato Could Pursue Lawsuit Over Reassessments

Reporting
Jon Delano
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato won't leave any stone unturned in his effort to stop a reassessment of Allegheny County residents.

And that includes a federal lawsuit that could -- ultimately -- affect taxpayers in other counties.

At its core is a belief that Allegheny County is being treated unfairly compared to residents in surrounding counties.

The DelDucas and their young triplets live in a quiet development in Cranberry and the last thing they want is Allegheny County's assessment mess.

"Our taxes are based on a 1969 assessment and our house wasn't even built until '96, so I really don't know how we're taxed or how the assessment works," Mike DelDuca told KDKA money editor Jon Delano.

Delano: "Are you happy with your taxes here?"

DelDuca: "Oh, yeah, very happy. That's part of the reason we live in Butler County."

That tax inequality has Onorato angry at the local judiciary.

"The same state law for 67 counties is being implemented differently depending on who files a suit and what judge makes a decision. So right now, you have 1.2 million in the County of Allegheny using the same law of the 67 counties being treated differently than the ones around us."

This unequal treatment could prompt Onorato to file an equal protection federal court case and that might lead to reassessment in other counties.
 
"Ohhh, I didn't know that. Well, that will get people listening," says Phyllis Irwin.

Irwin, who has lived in her Cranberry home for 39 years, can't remember the last assessment, but knows why she moved north.

"Originally, though we were in McCandless Township, and my husband was in Franklin Park. So that was Allegheny County -- but newlyweds, we needed to get away from the higher taxes."

And her neighbor Sondra King knows they're all better off.

Delano: "Do you think that folks in Butler County are treated better?"

King: "Yeah, probably, I think we are."

Which is why Onorato says, "We're going to leave all options open until this gets fixed."

Onorato is quick to say he does not want to see other counties reassessed.

He just wants the courts to treat Allegheny County like everyone else.

Now to be fair to local county Judge Stanton Wettick, who will meet with lawyers in the Allegheny County reassessment case Thursday afternon, that's not something he can do.

He can only rule about Allegheny County matters.

And that's why Onorato may step it up a notch to get the federal court involved.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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