Aug 16, 2009 2 min read

How soon we forget. Anyone who purchased real estate in Fayette County in the period from 1957 to 2001 must have read with dismay the report that the county commissioners voted to suspend the 2008 reassessment process. As a purchaser of property in 1982, I enjoyed the distinction of paying more in taxes for years than anyone else living along the unpaved road that fronted my house. The reason was the practice of using the last sale price as the basis for assessed valuation, a process that favored property owners whose property had not recently changed hands, hardly a fair or growth stimulating policy. Yet we are being led back to it.

The county commissioners need to hold another meeting to reverse the suspension decision, and extend the time for assessment appeals to deal with real errors in this process. As public officials the commissioners are well aware that no matter what they do, they will be subjected to just and unjust, informed and uninformed criticism. But surely a policy that is keeping with tenets of good governance is easier to defend than a policy of throwing away $500,000 of taxpayer funds and ignoring the years of work by people who have made the determination of tax assessment valuations their life’s work.

With an awareness that their “feet will be held to the fire” no matter what they do, the commissioners must take some comfort in the knowledge that there is still life after losing an election.

It would appear to be better to enact a policy that is defendable, trust in that elusive political element known as the “silent majority,” spray some fire absorbent material on one’s feet for protection from those who do not want to withdraw more tax money from bank accounts or profits obtained by strip mining their land, and reinstate the 2008 reassessment process.

Robert C. Cowles

Markleysburg