Modernizing Property Tax Assessments in Allegheny County

Pittsburgh is a mess. I grew up there and came back recently to visit after 20 years. I walked a street for a few miles, and it was homeless after homeless. Heartbreaking change to see. I spoke with some missionaries who were handing out provisions, and they said the next street up was even worse.

Reminds me of what happened to San Francisco after the tech boom. What a loss. These people who come to these cities for the economic zone are sick - they will literally let people die on the street. I wish Pittsburgh could tax the landowners into poverty.

Unexpected to see this talked about on HN.

I actually went through the Allegheny county “newcomer tax” just some months ago.

It was a bit of a strange process to appeal (I lost; my house is very weird for the area).

While I do see the benefit for not raising taxes so consistently for long-term owners (and could definitely see gentrification-esque effects) it does seem like a pretty obvious - if bitter - pill to swallow if the area is going to have any chance of continued growth.

Why don't they go back to their riff on land value tax? Property taxes are regressive and stifle growth, development, and improvements.