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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 24, 2013 02:37 PM |
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| From: | Representative Kate Harper |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) Reforms |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to move the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) under the purview of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). This legislation also incorporates additional reassessment reforms as a result of recommendations from the task forces established pursuant to House Resolutions 343 and 344 during the 2011-12 legislative session. As many of you know, there have been instances in the past where STEB incorrectly certified property market values. Property market values certified by STEB are used by the Department of Education and other state agencies to calculate and distribute state aid to not only school districts, but also local libraries, volunteer firefighter relief associations, community colleges and other programs. Governor Tom Corbett proposed moving STEB under the umbrella of DCED in his 2012-2013 budget. Last legislative session, Senator Gordner introduced Senate Bill 1546 to accomplish this proposal. Senate Bill 1546 passed the Senate unanimously and also passed the House with amendments. However, Senate Bill 1546 failed to reach concurrence between the two different chambers. Senator Gordner has reintroduced this bill in the current session as Senate Bill 66. Under the plan, STEB will remain a 3-person board. However, shifting its oversight to DCED will provide greater support services for STEB staff and board members and will cultivate the development of a partnership with the Center for Local Government Services, another entity under DCED. During the 2011-12 legislative session, House Resolutions 343 and 344 established two respective task forces to study and develop standards and criteria to be used by counties and STEB to improve the reassessment process. As a result of the task force recommendations, this legislation includes several reforms by authorizing: 1) creation of an operations manual for counties to use when completing a countywide reassessment; 2) creation of a statewide database for counties to report property values and data to STEB; 3) development of a statewide training program for assessors valuing property for reassessment purposes; and 4) development of standards for assessment service contracts. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
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| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HB672