Canon-McMillan opts to appeal tax case to state Supreme Court
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In a 7-0 vote, Canon-McMillan School Board decided this week to ask the state Supreme Court to hear its appeal in a homeowners’ property tax case.
Board members Joseph Zupancic and Eric Kline were absent.
The school district challenged the 2013 assessment of the property of Lydia O. Corey, 101 Queens Way, North Strabane Township, claiming that the fair market value was higher than what had been assessed. The school district won its case before the Washington County board of assessment appeals, which raised the property’s market and assessed values.
Corey then appealed to Common Pleas Court, claiming that the revised assessment was based on an incorrect base-year value.
Because Washington County’s last property assessment was performed in 1980, all base-year values are expressed in 1981 dollars, and the base-year value is multiplied by 25 percent to determine assessed value.
Washington County President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca set the fair market value at a 1981 base year at $65,000 and placed an assessed value of the home at $16,250 for the 2013 tax year.
Last month, Commonwealth Court President Judge Dan Pellegrini, in a memorandum opinion, affirmed O’Dell Seneca’s decision.
Canon-McMillan board President Paul Scarmazzi said the district’s attorney, Susan Key, felt the appellate court was “grievously in error” when it ruled.
“It’s a very important matter for us,” Scarmazzi said. “Our attorney feels very strongly that we have a very strong case.”