County Council Members: "Why We Raised Your Taxes"

Want to hear from the Chairman of County Council's Budget and Finance Committee on why they passed a millage increase of 21% at the County level?  Click here for the Letter to the Editor he penned, along with Council Member Barbara Daly Danko.  RAMP Government Affairs is a close observer and frequently testifies on budget matters before County Council.  Click here to review my remarks . . . 

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What's Up with Increased "G" Fees on Fannie/Freddie and FHA Loans

An abundance of media reports on "G" fees are causing mild panic among REALTORS® and consumers alike. In typical fashion, most media reports begin with "The Senate passed a $15 per month fee . . . " leading to incorrect assumptions or outright conclusions, failing to remind that the House hasn't concurred with a similar action.  Let RAMP Government Affairs provide you with an update on just what is the scoop du jour on "G" Fees . . . .

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Where Things Stand with Reassessment* [UPDATED as of 12/21/11]

Details on the status of Allegheny County's reassessment reveals an evolving set of new twists and turns on a frequent basis, often altering previous updates by RAMP Government Affairs.  The best guidance is to "check in frequently" with all of the resources RAMP Government Affairs provides, including the Advocacy Insider blog and our Facebook page.  As of this writing, here are the freshest details and dates for REALTORS® to keep in mind . . . 

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Change to Mechanics' Lien Law being considered in PA House

Today in Harrisburg, the House will consider HB 1602 (Killion), a bill on Mechanics' Lien.  HB 1602 provides for formal notice by a subcontractor to the Court of Common Pleas as to the condition precedent to beginning construction.  Notice must be given within fifteen days of commencement of the construction.  A petition for a claim for a lien must be filed within four months of completion of the work.  REALTORS® urge state legislators to vote YES on HB 1602, and have sent a one-minute video . . . 

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County Council Reauthorizes Act 202, Raises Millage

It'd be difficult to escape the news articles, heated talk radio discussions, editorials, and Facebook postings that have emerged since Tuesday evening's party-line vote by Allegheny County Council to raise the county millage rate for 2012 from 4.69 to 5.69 mills.  While it was the first time in over a decade, a great deal of concern continues to be voiced by residents over the timing of it with the new valuations being handed out soon.  RAMP Government Affairs was among twenty speakers at the Council meeting, and the sole speaker to urge re-examination and caution to Council Members, offer alternatives, and ask them to be mindful . . .

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Safe at Home . . . The Homestead Exemption

Whispers have abounded and some Council Members have openly suggested it may be due for some tinkering or even elimination.  The Homestead Exemption has 318,803 property owners currently benefiting from the first $15,000 of assessed value of owner-occupied and certain farmstead properties being excluded from taxation.  That's $22 million that Allegheny County homeowners get to keep in their hands, and out of the Tax Man's clutch.  RAMP Government Affairs' numerous conversations with County Council Members, in addition to our own fact-checking of procedural processes, lead me to deduce the Homestead Exemption remains safely off the table.

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Video: NAR President Ron Phipps congratulates RAMP on it's 100th Anniversary!

2011 President of The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), Ron Phipps ABR, CRS, e-PRO, GREEN, GRI sends RAMP a message of congratulations on its 100th birthday celebration.  To watch the video click the play button above.

If you missed our centennial events, click here to view our gallery of photos.

To see an archival of centennial news from this year, click here. 

Act 202/New Home Construction abatement poised to avoid Allegheny County chopping block

Allegheny County Council Members are grappling with a $20 million deficit as they craft the 2012 budget.  Over the past several weeks it has become more and more clear that their preferred path involves giving serious consideration to raising the County's millage for the first time in over a decade, from 4.69 to 5.69 mills.  At last week's Allegheny County Economic Development and Housing Committee meeting, RAMP Government Affairs was pleased to see a measure we have been lobbying hard for, the reauthorization of the Act 202/New Home Construction abatement, was proposed by County Council Member Robert Macey.  It was voted out of the committee with a unanimous affirmative vote. . . 

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Reassessment for City of Pittsburgh meeting judge's deadline (for now)

City of Pittsburgh and Mount Oliver property owners should expect to find a lil' something mixed in with the holiday cards in their mailboxes soon . . . their new valuation.  At a status conference held the day before Thanksgiving, the County's Chief Property Assessment Officer reported to Judge Wettick that Allegheny County is on track to meet the mid-December deadline for properties located within the Pittsburgh school district (which includes Mount Oliver).  Appraiser valuations are currently being compared to mathematical formulas, also referred to as "iteration," to achieve fairness and consistency.  REALTORS®  should take special note that while the preliminary assessments . . . 

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Two Victories for REALTORS® at Federal Level

Last Thursday Congress had a conference agreement of their minibus appropriations bill, which contained provisions significant for REALTORS®, FHA Loan Limits and NFIP . . .

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