PITTSBURGH — A property owner is suing a school district, saying the district is improperly taxing properties at drastically different rates.
CF Pennsylvania Owner LLC filed a complaint on Nov. 13 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, against North Allegheny School District for alleged violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution's Uniformity Clause.
According to the complaint, on March 29, CF Pennsylvania Owner LLC received an assessment appeal from a defendant due to its recently purchased property. Plaintiff claims defendant is allegedly targeting newly purchased properties by effectively taxing substantially similar, neighboring properties to drastically different rates based solely on when a taxpayer purchased.
Furthermore, defendant has not come forward with any explanation as to why it appealed plaintiff's assessment and has not come forward with any evidence to support a value for the property which differs from the current assessment.
The plaintiff holds North Allegheny School District responsible for allegedly engaging in a scheme by selectively targeting the assessments of properties recently purchased by new buyers to pay more than their proportionate share of the cost of government commonly known as "Welcome Stranger" tax.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for attorneys' fees incurred, and award such other relief as the court deems just and proper. They are represented by Sharon DiPaolo, Ryan Kammerer and Brendan Kelly of Siegel Jennings Co. LPA in Pittsburgh.
Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County Case No. GD-18-014956.