If you recieved your Allegheny County assessment in the mail and found it to be flawed, then you need to appeal it. In fact, appeals are part of the system to get the values right. As most people would agree, it is practically impossible for a computer model, which was used for the new values, to be accurate all the time, and it is illegal for the assessors to do "spot assessments". So the only way to help make the model more accurate, and get your value correct, is through appeals.
Right now in Allegheny County there is a system of informal reviews and formal appeals. There are specific dates you need to meet for either of these processes. The RAMP website has a detailed list of the most current dates relating to the appeals here.
In order to appeal you will want to take evidence of comparable homes that support your belief that your assessment is too high. You need to find the closest matches in size, number of rooms, condition, age, parking, etc. More information on the appeal process can be found here.
Finally, it is important to note that a higher assessment does not necessarily mean your taxes are going up. The city, school district and county are required under Pennsylvania's anti-windfall law to readjusted property tax rates downward to remain revenue neutral in the year of the assessment. As a matter of fact, Chris Briem, a University of Pittsburgh economist, estimates that 6 out of 10 homeowners could see their taxes go down when all is finally revealed. Read more in a story from Brian O'Neill with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12008/1201780-155-0.stm#ixzz1kIAdUo00
Finally, if you are interested in the play-by-play on the twists and turns of the assessment process, check out the ongoing Reassessment Roulette blog on RAMP's website.
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