Pennsylvania Justice Hints at Discriminatory School Tax Appeals

A Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice indicated during oral arguments Thursday that a school district’s property tax reassessment method likely violates the state constitution by being arbitrary and discriminatory.

Justice Christine Donohue suggested property tax assessments that Downingtown Area School District choose to appeal were done in a discriminatory manner in violation of the constitution’s uniformity clause—which ensures no taxpayer pays more than their proportionate share of government costs. The school district may be in violation of the uniformity clause because it excluded residential properties, Donohue said. Residential properties would generate less tax revenue than commercial properties.

Downingtown selected properties ...