CCAP TESTIFIES AT ASSESSMENT HEARING – On October 29 CCAP was one of four panelists at a hearing on county assessment law and practice, held by the House Republican Policy Committee in Richland Township, Allegheny County. Other panelists included representatives of a mass appraisal firm, legal counsel for the plaintiffs in the Clifton assessment case, and a representative of the Allegheny Institute of Public Policy.
The hearing, originally scheduled for an hour and a half, lasted nearly three as panelists engaged in a lengthy question and answer session with the Committee. The opening remarks by the panel covered the range of property assessment issues, with the standing court order in Allegheny County’s Clifton case as a backdrop. In Clifton, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared the base year property assessment system constitutional, but Allegheny County’s implementation unconstitutional. The Court declined to set assessment standards in the decision and instead suggested that doing so is the role of the General Assembly.
CCAP remarks centered on counties’ role in administering the assessment system, noting that the basis for reassessment is to improve equity, not to increase the tax base. The Association cited cost and the confusing nature of Pennsylvania’s multiple assessment laws as the primary reason counties do not reassess more frequently. Procedure was also reviewed, building on extensive testimony by the appraisal firm.
The Association commented on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee review of the assessment system now underway as a result of HR 334, which will result in a report and recommendations to the General Assembly next June. CCAP and its affiliate Assessors Association of Pennsylvania are providing active assistance to the LBFC on the report.
CCAP also expressed support for SB 918, a codification of the multiple assessment laws into a single statute, developed by the Local Government Commission. The Association noted that passage of the bill, which has been reported from the Senate Finance Committee and is in Senate Appropriations, would allow the legislature to consider the pending LBFC recommendations in the context of a single law rather than multiple laws.
The Association also expressed appreciation to the House for approving HB 1661, which would place a moratorium on court-ordered reassessments for a period of two years or until the legislature adopts system reforms, whichever comes first. The bill has been reported from the Senate Local Government Committee and is also in Senate Appropriations.
NEW FEDERAL LAW ON MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS – On October 28 President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010. Included in the legislation, HR 2647, is the Military and Overseas Voting Empowerment ("MOVE") Act, which is designed to improve the overseas absentee voting process and to ensure that uniformed services voters and overseas voters are aware of their voting rights.
Among its provisions, the MOVE Act requires states, in consultation with local jurisdictions, to establish an absentee ballot tracking system that will provide free access to military and overseas voters to obtain information regarding the status of their ballots. Every state will be required to send military voters their ballots no later than 45 days before the election. Also of interest to local elections officials, the act removes the current stipulation that a single absentee ballot request serves as a request to receive absentee ballots through the subsequent two federal election cycles.
The Pennsylvania Department of State has confirmed that it will be coordinating the tracking system. More information will be provided to the county election directors as the Act is implemented.
HOME RULE ELECTIONS – A number of county executive and county council posts appeared on the November 2009 general election ballot. Results are unofficial as of press time.
Allegheny County
Seven county council district seats were on the ballot. Incumbent councilmembers Matt Drozd (R) and Michael Finnerty (D) won reelection in the first and fifth districts. Incumbent councilmembers James Burn Jr. (D, third district), Charles Martoni (D, eighth district), Bob Macey (D, ninth district), and Jim Ellenbogen (D, twelfth district) were unopposed for reelection. Mid-term appointee Amanda Green (D, thirteenth district) was unopposed for election for the balance of the term.
Delaware County
Two at-large county council seats were contested. State Representative and House Appropriations Minority Chair Mario Civera (R) won election to council, taking the seat currently held by Council Chair Linda Cartisano (R). Incumbent Jack Whelan (R) won reelection. Cartisano successfully ran for county Common Pleas judge.
Erie County
As the Bulletin goes to press, Barry Grossman (D) holds a slim 350 vote margin over Mike Kerner (R) for county executive. Grossman defeated incumbent Mark DiVecchio (D) in the primary.
Incumbent Councilmember and CCAP First Vice President Joe Giles (D) had no challengers for the District 2 seat. Incumbent Councilmember Ronald Cleaver won reelection to the District 4 seat. Ebert Beeman (R) won election to the District 6 seat, for which incumbent Dave Mitchell (R) ran a general election write-in campaign after initially deciding not to seek reelection this year.
Lehigh County
Incumbent County Executive Don Cunningham (D) won reelection in a tight race over challenger Scott Ott (R). On county council, Tom Creighton (R) won election to the District 1 seat being vacated by Sterling Raber (R); Raber is one of the longest-tenured CCAP members. Incumbent commissioner and former CCAP President Percy Dougherty (R), along with incumbent commissioners David Jones (D), Daniel McCarthy (D), and Glenn Eckhart (R), won reelection in contested races.
Northampton County
The county executive post and five at-large council seats were contested. Incumbent John Stoffa (D) won reelection as county executive. Incumbent at-large councilmembers Peg Ferraro (R) and John Cusick (R) won reelection. Three newcomers, Tom Dietrich (R), Bruce Gilbert (R), and Barbara A. Thierry (R) won election. Incumbent Charles Dertinger (D) was unsuccessful in his reelection bid while incumbents Joseph Capozzolo (D) and Diane Neiper (D) did not run for reelection.
FALL CONFERENCE UPDATE AND VOTING SESSION – Governor Rendell has been added to the CCAP Fall Conference program, addressing CCAP members at the closing general session on Tuesday, November 24. The Conference is November 22 - 24 at the Hotel Hershey. The Governor will be discussing issues related to the commonwealth budget, focusing on the administration of this year’s budget as well as planning for next year’s budget, and the impact to counties. The full agenda and conference details can be found on the CCAP web site, www.pacounties.org.
The Conference also includes a voting session on Tuesday, November 24 for the CCAP membership to act on the 2010 dues schedule and the 2010 Strategic Plan and Action Plan. The proposed dues schedule and proposed Strategic and Action plans will be sent to the CCAP membership in advance of the Conference.