Local Government

Wealthiest PA nonprofits

edstem — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:44:59 GMT

Top wealthiest nonprofits in PA includes several in Allegheny County

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22751044/Charities-in-Pennsylvania

UPMC Group has over $3 Billion in assets

UPMC has $5 billion in assets

Carnegie Mellon Univ. has over $2 Billion in assets

University of Pittsburgh - has $4.4 Billion in assets.

Why shouldn't they pay for the many government services they use, when they are the richest guys around? They should be paying property taxes just like the rest of us to support police, fire, roads etc.

What library?

PG Admin24 — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:54:44 GMT

The Carnegie Library board of trustees has voted to close, move or merger 8 branches. [Read story]

Can these libraries be saved? Should they be saved? What's your opinion?

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1% higher ed tax

flecktones — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:55:54 GMT

Just curious, is there anyone here who actually supports this?

PG's Mayoral Endorsement Misses Mark

StillersPensBuccos — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:10:08 GMT

Before I begin my response to the PG's laughable endorsement from Sunday's paper, I want to say one thing to the general public:

I've made up my mind. Tonight's second mayoral debate demonstrated that there is one qualified candidate for mayor: Franco Dok Harris. He has the education, work experience, and community service background that would enable him to lead the city. His platform appeals to Republicans and Democrats alike. He knows how to manage the red tape in this city from his days assisting business owners in setting up shop and home owners in keeping their houses. He has no funding ties to big business or a party machine. And he has practical plans to resolve our biggest issues without being satisfied with the status quo or making empty promises. Best of all, if he is elected mayor, Harris can clean house in the mayor's office, rid us of the old guard who have been lining their pockets at the expense of taxpayers for years, and sever the chains to campaign fundraisers that siphon fat contracts out of our city's government.

I invite all registered Republicans (like me) in this city to join an enormous portion of the registered Democrats (and a sizable chunk of registered Republicans) in this city who have decided to vote for Franco Dok Harris on November 3. As a Republican-Independent, Acklin cannot garner enough votes to win--Democrats in this city simply will not vote for a Republican. Acklin may appeal to the east end since he lives there, but remember, what you do in the voting booth is private. If you, like most of the city, want to get rid of the incumbent, then you'll have to join forces with the northern and southern ends of the city--almost all of whom are split between Harris and Ravenstahl. Spread the word to your friends, get them out to vote, and change this city for the better!

Now, onto my critique of the PG's embarrassing endorsement.

========================================================================

The title of the PG editorial last week was “Pittsburgh voters should stick with the incumbent,” but you give us no legitimate reasons why Ravenstahl is the best person for the job. You admit that he is a “work in progress,” “has yet to articulate a vision for the future,” won’t work with state legislators, needs to “distance himself” from the “party machine,” had a “bumpy start” marked by “ethical lapses” (to put it mildly). The only positive about him is that he is “well served by various aides” and has a “smart staff” (and possibly influential businessmen who stand to gain from city deals...Acklin's accusations in the second debate may merit investigation). Pittsburghers are not electing his employees into office. We are voting for a mayor—a leader—not a follower or an oligarch. You acknowledge that this is a “pivotal time and nothing less than the future is at stake,” yet you are willing to bank on someone whose best quality is that he has better people around him and gamble on someone who views this job as an “entitlement” (he isn’t even campaigning). We’ve all seen how successful gambling has been around Pittsburgh since the casino opened.

You list his alleged accomplishments with words like: “spoken out for,” “pushed,” “sought to,” and “argued for.” All of these terms indicate that nothing he has tried to do has actually been done. There are some things you mention that he has achieved: “he got tough on landlords” (yet drugs and guns are stashed in all types of for-rent property in our neighborhoods); “he ordered cleanups of residential neighborhoods” (i.e., neighborhoods create their own volunteer cleanup programs because the city won’t clean up city-owner lots/buildings); he has been fiscally conservative (but what money he did spend was done so wastefully or for the benefit of his fundraisers); and he requested “support from non-profits” (not from the wealthy organizations themselves, but by proposing a tax on their needy clients). This last part is shocking. He wants to get more out of our non-profits so he is asking hospital patients and college students to foot the bill? This “solution” is totally bereft of any shred of logic. And you give him credit for—rather, he takes credit for—accolades won for the city by its private sector (greening up the city, developing high-tech jobs, maintaining a low cost of living).

Hopefully people read the start of your article, wherein you list the qualities of two better-suited candidates for the office (one with legal expertise and one with financial/business expertise). The only reason you state for not endorsing them is, essentially, that you don’t think that they will win. That is not a ringing endorsement for the current mayor. So, why not endorse the person who you think can actually do the job without needing to have his hand held by his retainers? Retract your selection and tell Pittsburgh who you think would be the best candidate for the job, not who you think will win or who will give it a good try. Until then, I’ll remain saddened by your willingness to risk the next four years on someone who you wish will grow into the job, and shake my head every time I drive by a gilded trashcan sitting on a corner where no trashcan is needed.

Our city deserves a captain who is proactively approaches problems with foresight, not someone who stamps out fires. We need someone who will astutely administer our public trust, not someone to play sports socialite. We have settled for the “status quo” (the war-chant of the Ravenstahl office) and mismanagement for too long. Last November, this city voted for change, but for an office that affects daily operations here far less than people believe it does. Now, this city needs to be encouraged to vote for a change that will affect our lives and wallets every day.

Rather than acquiesce to mediocrity, endorse a competent candidate and encourage Pittsburgh to vote. If you endorse Franco Dok Harris or Kevin Acklin and cover the election, then your only negative for them—your assumption that they cannot win—will disappear.

Sound cannons -- military technology -- now in routine use against U.S. citiizens?

jym — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:35:47 GMT

=v= In today's Post-Gazette: LRAD lets police have loudest word. Does anyone else find it ironic that the police are touting this weapon as a communications device?

Supposedly the purpose of having this sound cannon at the G20 was to communicate orders to disperse, but folks on the street report that it was instead used to inflict pain. Meanwhile, police arrested a guy for using Twitter to communicate the same order to disperse. Again, notice anything ironic about all this?

Extortion

double-down — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:09:31 GMT

The aboslute gall:

http://post-gazette.com/pg/09279/1003342-53.stm

Yes, let's whine and ask for free money because the city had to comply with Secret Service.

PA Conflict Resolution Day

edstem — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:26:32 GMT

Rep Buxtom has introduced a nonbinding resolution calling for designating Oct 15 as Conflict Resolution Day. Could this be a covert effort to end the budget impasse? The irony of this is remarkable. It should come as no surprise that the House has scheduled no action on his bill. See HB 477

Is anyone else tire of Rob Rogers?

swaybar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:02:38 GMT

Comparing the Pittsburgh Police to the Pinkertons? Whether or not some local actions were over the top I think Rogers needs to open a history book. Brutality? The Pinkertons and the Coal and Iron "Police" wrote the book.

Why?

bossman — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:53:29 GMT

Why can't people stick to a thread? I put a note on about Reagan commenting on reading a 1400 word bill before signing it (like what wasn't done recently for the stimulus bill) This was only a comparison between Alabama, I mean Obama and Reagan.

People's replies, however, were that Reagan was an actor, or Nancy led him around, etc. Those replies didn't even come close to the original thread. If you can't reply to a thread, then start a new one.

This happens a lot. It is evidence that you have no knowledge of the subject of the thread. Why not just ignore the thread, then?

Makes too much sense, huh?

Bossman Mike

Tax subsidies - no Jbos

edstem — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:18:17 GMT

The Michigan Example

How government investment in business failed to create jobs.

"A central belief in Washington and most state capitals nowadays is that government should "invest" in certain businesses—"clean tech," say, or manufacturing—to drive job creation. We hope it all turns out better than it has in Michigan.

For the past 14 years, Lansing politicians have offered $3.3 billion in tax credits through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and spent another $1.6 billion in outlays to create and retain jobs. The subsidies have ranged from tax breaks for Hollywood, to money for new industrial plants, to millions for TV ads starring Jeff Daniels and Tim Allen talking about business and tourism in the state.

It's one of the largest experiments in smokestack chasing in American history, but one thing it hasn't done is create jobs. An exhaustive new 100-page study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Michigan think tank, has reviewed where all the money has gone and what came of it. The study finds that for every 100 jobs that were promised with these tax credits over 14 years, only 29 arrived."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204313604574328792152010638.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

PA DCED did a study a couple years ago and found similar results. In fact, they were giving money to companies that no longer existed.

Kick Middle Class while Down

edstem — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:49:23 GMT

Rendell and his legislative allies want to kick middle class while we are down. I do not understand their thinking. In his latest budget press show, Rendell is complaining he won't have tax dollars to give to wealthy developers and company owners.

Some legislators and the Gov. continue to fight to raise taxes on the middle class in PA.

"The State of Working Pennsylvania is an annual checkup on the state economy with a focus on working families. The 2009 edition documents how the middle class has been particularly hard hit by the worst recession since the GreatDepression. (See Fact Sheet below for detailed findings. A copy of the full report is available at

http://keystoneresearch.org/sites/keystone-research.zivtech.com/files/SWP2009.pdf)

Inflation-adjusted wages for middle-class workers have declined over the past year, the report notes, which comes on the heels of a seven-year stretch of wage stagnation for most Pennsylvania workers. Between 2001-2002 and 2008-2009, all but the top 5% of earners experienced a decline in inflation-adjusted wages.

Meanwhile, the incomes of the wealthiest Pennsylvanians have surged to newhighs. Between 2001 and 2006 (the latest year these data are available), the top 1% of earners captured 68% of all growth in personal income."

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS85934+05-Sep-2009+PRN20090905

New budget plan 1943

edstem — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:41:26 GMT

New Budget proposal a compromise from the House Republicans. HB 1943 - The $27.5 billion, no-tax-increase plan.

LOCAL EDUCATION • Basic Education: This budget provides a very generous $150 Million increase in the Basic Education Subsidy over FY 2008-09. Combined with the Federal ARRA funds; this would provide for a total of $5.38 Billion for PA schools.

o This $150 Million increase in the Basic Education Subsidy was not reflected in SB 850.

o Combined with other federal stimulus dollars (Title I, Title IID and IDEA), PA schools would receive approximately $860 Million in new education funding in FY 2009-10. • Special Education: State funds would remain at the FY 2008-09 levels of $1.03 Billion. Portions of the $715 Million in stimulus funds would be directed to special education through the federal IDEA initiative. • Services to Non-Public Schools : This budget also provides $16 Million in increased funding for Non-Public Schools compared to FY 2008-09. Altogether, $90.9 Million would be provided to Services for Non-Public Schools and $27.8 Million would go to textbooks and equipment.• Pre-K Counts: Funding for this early-childhood initiative supporting eligible families – family of four making $66,000 or less – is funded at the SB 850 level.

• Head Start Assistance: This program, which provides early-childhood education support to low-income families (family of four making $22,000 or less) was provided $39.5 Million. This is $19.7 Million more than the Senate-approved budget and is level-funded from FY 2008-09. • Public Libraries: Pennsylvania public libraries would receive $50 Million under this proposal representing a $13 Million increase above SB 850. HIGHER EDUCATION • Community Colleges: State dollars for these schools would remain at the FY 2008-09 total of $236.2 Million. • State-Related Universities: The state’s four state-related universities (PSU, PITT, Temple and Lincoln) all receive a 6 Percent reduction in state dollars but will then be provided stimulus funds to ensure funding remains at the FY 2008-09 levels. • Non-State Related Universities and Colleges: Although these institutions were all reduced by 50 Percent (in most cases) over FY 2008-09, neither the Rendell Budget nor the Senate-approved budget provided any funding. This budget ensures they will be provided some funding. • State System of Higher Education: The state’s universities would be provided a total of $504.2 Million. This would represent a $15 Million reduction in state funds from FY 2008-09. However, stimulus dollars will ensure these schools will receive the same amount of funding as was received in FY 2008-09. • PHEAA: This budget plan would provide about an increase above what was approved in SB 850, for a total of $445.2 Million. More info: http://pahousegop.com/?sectionid=220&sectiontree=7,64,220

Where's Bob?

bossman — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:28:25 GMT

States have 2 Senators, except PA. It has had only 1 for 2 years, and that one isn't sure of where he wants to be.

When Bob Casey was running, he didn't look too promising. Besides having no real credentials and working background, he looked like he was asleep.

Where's he at this month? Most other Senators are out and about, but Bob's no where to be seen. Maybe he's on a "well deserved" vacation. I don't know why it would be "well deserved," however.

Where is he? Why isn't he involved in the Health Care issue? Maybe he's smart. I don't think so, though.

If anybody sees or hears from Bob, tell him his constituents await his expertese and at least a token appearance before September 1st.

Bossman Mike

PA Library funding

edstem — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:13:38 GMT

Governor Rendell argues we should value libraries enough to pay for their services. I agree. Those people who use the libraries should pay for many of the services.

Libraries need to become fiscally independent of the government. To do so they should begin a revenue raising plan that is centered on their customers/users.

1. Read the book, magazine, newspaper in the library - do so for free.

2. Take the book out? Charge a small fee - $1 a book/week. Charge 50 cents each for kid's books/week.

3. Charge a small fee for children's programs - $5 for the whole program. Exempt those children whose families are in TANF or kids enrolled in Head Start.

4. Stop buying hollywood films on DVD or video to lend. You can now rent DVDs at kiosks in grocery stores for $1. It is not right to be charging this mindless entertainment to the people of Pennsylvania. Optionally, libraries could permit the kiosks in their facilities to provide the service, without charging it to the taxpayers.

5. Carefully study visitor frequency and reduce hours to the ones of highest to moderate usage.

6. Charge $1 an hour to use the library's computers that access the Internet.

7. Provide library card holders access to AccessPA for a small fee.

All Pennsylvanians should be reminded that by law they have access at least one day a week to their school district's libraries and the computers there.

LA Fitness, another good reason for consolidation

allablaze — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:01:10 GMT

The shooting at LA Fitness in Collier Township illustrates why a consolidation of emergency services in Allegheny County is needed.

Most small suburban police depts are ill equipped and inexperienced to handle such incidents. 80 to 90% of the work load of small suburban depts is traffic and parking related along with the usual mundane incidents pertinent to suburban life.

Numerous police units from surrounding communities rushed to the scene at the LA Fitness Center in Collier creating a chaotic scene of police cars and officers. The Collier police chief appeared overwhelmed by the events taking place. He later admitted he had never experienced such an incident. Result...maybe to many police on scene and no one in charge with command experience....result chaos.

Multiple EMS ambulances arrived from numerous communities. Most of these ambulances are staffed by EMT's some of whom are volunteers. EMT's are not qualified to render advanced life support such as administering medications and/or performing endotracheal intubation. Professional paramedics are trained and certified to perform these tasks.

Scenes such as that that occurred at LA Fitness where there were multiple trauma injuries a triage is necessary. The fact that a critically injured individual was directed to St. Clair Hospital where she died shortly after arrival, while other individuals with lesser non life threatening injuries were directed to level 1trauma hospitals such as Allegheny General and UPMC Mercy, suggests there may have been no one on scene qualified to triage the injured.

St. Clair Hospital is I am sure a very good hospital, but it is not a designated level 1 trauma hospital. Allegheny General and UPMC Mercy have trauma units that are staffed 24/7 by trauma surgeons both general and orthopedic along with neurosurgeons and other personnel trained to treat trauma patients. St. Clair Hospital is not so equipped.

The City of Pittsburgh EMS has emergency medicine physicians from UPMC available 24/7 to respond to emergency scenes in the field. Using the City EMS as a model, this is the type of professional EMS services that should be available county wide.

Police, EMS and fire services are becoming more sophisticated. Incidents incurring multiple trauma such as occurred Tuesday in Collier Township can and will occur again. Having 129 small inexperienced police depts., and inexperienced hired or volunteer EMT's responding should not be the norm for residents of Allegheny County in the 21st century.

These emergency services should be performed by trained experienced professionals.

Time to consolidate.

Inconsiderate!

bossman — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:53:39 GMT

Although this only affects West Mifflin, I think it's worth bringing up to show how our public utilities respect their customers.

I received my Legal Tax (Sewerage Bill) for the month. It usually runs about $34 per month.

I opened this month's and it was for $47. The only warning was a line on it that said due to expenses, prices were going up. Surprise, Surprise!

It's too bad the bozos on this board are appointed and not elected. You know they would be gone.

Bossman Mike

P.S. Did you also know that on your PA American Water bill, there is a $12 Service Charge on it EVERY MONTH.

This is for equipment, meter reading, and other things. All items that are already in place and have no extra cost to the company. What a ripoff and we can't do a thing about it!

PIT increase to your school?

edstem — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:31:02 GMT

Sen Costa and Gov Rendell are pushing a plan to raise the PIT to fund schools. What they do not tell you is 50 school districts will get back more in state education funding than their residents will pay in.

All the rest, 450 school districts, will get back less money for their schools than they will pay in extra PIT.

Examples:

Philiadelphia residents will pay an extra $89 million in increased PIT. The Philadelphia School District will get an additional $193,135,470 in state funding.

Woodland Hills SD residents will pay an extra $4,122,852 in increased PIT. They will get back $1,317,039 for their children in schools.

Wilkinsburg Borough SD residents will pay an extra $1,032,733 in increased PIT. They will get back $401,572 for their children in public schools.

West Mifflin Area SD residents will pay an extra $1,714,614 in increased PIT. They will get back $326,120 for their schools.

West Jefferson SD residents will pay an extra $2,330,676 in increased PIT. They will get back $387,349 for their schools.

West Allegheny SD residents will pay an extra $2,509,349 in increased PIT. They will get back $289,271 for their schools.

Upper Saint Clair Area SD residents will pay an extra $5,401,531 in increased PIT. They will get back only $137,447 for their schools.

West Mifflin Area SD residents will pay an extra $1,714,614 in increased PIT. They will get back $326,120 for their schools.

South Park SD residents will pay an extra $1,488,132 in increased PIT. They will get back $319,553 in state funding to their school district.

Duquesne City SD residents will pay an extra $223,462 in increased PIT. They will get back an extra $2,488,917 for their schools.

Rep Todd Eachus' school district is Hazleton in Luzerne County. Hazleton SD residents will pay an extra $5,284,642 in increased PIT. They will get back $6,269,223 for their schools.

They get nearly $1 million MORE than they will pay in.

Local property taxes are spent in our community for our children. An increased PIT is a tax shift from 450 school districts to the other 50. There is nothing in the plan to prevent our schools from raising our property taxes again next year.

Data taken from a spreadsheet provided by Pennsylvania House Republicans at: http://www.pahousegop.com/?sectionid=19&parentid=5&sectiontree=5,19&itemid=8658

Corruption Breeds Corruption?

bossman — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:34:00 GMT

I'm surer than ever that birds of a feather flock together, and if one of them is corrupt, all the rest are also corrupt in some way.

Millionair Senator Vincent Fumo got 4 + years for ripping off the state in a big way. That's all. Here is a guy that had a farm, a beach house, a house in Florida, and a supply of fine cars, and who knows what else. His state aids did his manual work for him. We overpay our legislators, but Fumo's wealth was from more than just his salary. He defrauded the state of millions of dollars.

The main thing, however, was that the judge had over 300 letters from Fumo supporters vouching for him as a reputable person. The judge took these into consideration and gave him a lenient sentence. Who are these people? I would have to trhink they were privy to some of Fumo's money. Birds of a feather.

It's a shame that the people that wrote these letters aren't ashamed of themselves, but I would have to think they are anxious for him to do his time so that they can get back on the "gravy train."

But wait. One of them was our governor. "Fast Eddy." I need say no more in this case.

Hurry up and do your time Vince. Your fans await your return.

Bossman Mike

A good example

bossman — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:44:49 GMT

Want National Health Care?

Just look at FEMA. They won't release any money for our local disaster areas.

What do you think is going to happen if you need a heart operation, but HHS tells the doctor "It's only a murmer." Tomorrow, you're dead!

Why are foreigners coming to the US for health care? Any Americans running to Canada or England for aid? Never hear of it. Canada only has cheap meds.

Good National Health Care is a long way off. Especially if we have the current crew of politicians working on it. I don't think they know a "band aid" from a "band parent!"

Bossman Mike

Untouchables?

bossman — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:50:26 GMT

Pennsylvania needs a budget. Police, Troopers, Hospital employees, Public TV, Teachers, etc. all are on the bubble.

Everything is supposedly being looked at for cuts or adjustments.

Wait a minute...I've heard nothing about our state legislators and their salaries and perks. Why can't at least half of them be "laid off?" What would it hurt? Would they be missed? I don't think so. There would still be over 150 of them running around with their finger in their ......

I don't understand why no one has said anything about laying any of them off. Their wages, WAM, daily expenses, etc, would add up to a lot of money. I watch them talking about every one else losing their jobs. Why not a large cut in that area? I guess no one has the guts to suggest it, let alone get them to approve it.

I think getting rid of at least half (or more) of them is part of the answer.

Bossman Mike

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes!

bossman — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:43:20 GMT

So "Fast Eddie" wants to get us by raising our Income Tax, "Temporarily."

They've mentioned many areas that can provide money.

It's deafening the silence from our legislators.

They have perks, benefits, and salaries that are overblown. Why can't these be tapped into to get some funds? If wanted, there's a way. These ladies and gentlemen act like kings (and queens) and have quite a few perks. They should be knocked down a little.

Bossman Mike

Lighten up!

bossman — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:42:53 GMT

SENATOR BOXER. Swat a fly!

You people should all lighten up and take it easy. Stand back and look around and smell the roses!

If you take everything I post seriously, I'll see you in a home somewhere. A lot of time, I point out the small, inconsequential happenings that our big boys in congress go through, but which mean nothing in the whole scheme of things.

"Your boy lost," "It was the last asdministrations fault," etc. are mostly petty and if you all are still dwelling on the likes of them, you all need help.

Bossman Mike

Forgetting Something?

bossman — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:07:25 GMT

"Fast Eddy" wants to raise the Income Tax and tax tobacco products, etc.

I haven't heard a word about making our bloated legislators give something back, however. They are over compensated in all areas. Take some of their WAM, daily food expenses, car expenses, and other perks. They get entirely too many benefits for what they do. (Work about 77 days a year?)

Nothing said about them, though. Why not?

Bossman Mike

Square Foot-Round Mouth

bossman — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:45:17 GMT

Well, Sally Kalson has done it again. With little intelligence, she continues to write for "One of America's Great Papers."

She's talking about 6 killings in 66 days. I guess she feels that enough time has passed, so the Bush/Cheney administration can't really be blamed for these.

Therefore, she goes to blame Bill O'Reilly and his ilk. Go figure.

With nimble-minded thinking like this, and the chance to put it in print, it'll be no wonder that the Post-Gazette will be down the tubes shortly.

Bossman Mike

Property assessments

Traffic — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:49:03 GMT

Here is my concern: Houses being assessed based on what they can be sold for (and I am not even sure that is what the basis is) could mean the rich get richer and poor get poorer so to speak.

If you live in a so-called nice community, where houses values have risen, chances are those people will end up paying more in property taxes. Not only does that seem a little unfair to people who tend to keep up with their properties. But doesn't that mean that those areas will just end up with too much tax money? Those places already have good school districts and nice amenities. One could argue, I suppose, that they should be willing to pay what their houses are worth, considering what they get.

If you are in my situation, living in an area with declining property values and a crappy school district, we have the opposite problem. If houses are reassessed for what they can be or have been sold for, these communities will have even less money, thus making the areas less appealing, with fewer amenities and, most likely, an even worse school district. How can places like that ever get ahead?

For the most part, I would be happy if my property assessment went down, knowing there is no way I would be able to sell my house for the assessed value (I tried last year, when things were not as bad). But I truly worry what this means for my community and others like it. How can we compete if there is less money coming in? And if the answer is to raise the millage, then in essence it does not matter if the values went down, and then the county just wasted a lot of money paying to have all the properties reassessed.

Am I missing something?