The Front Page: February 2012

Monday, February 13, 2012

President Revises Clause in Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act

Many college students support the Affordable Health Care Act because either their parents don't have health insurance or their ability to use their parents' health insurance runs out a few years after they graduate from Pitt. There is a provision in the bill that forces employers to cover birth control in their insurance policies. Last month, President Obama received serious criticism when he announced that religious institutions would have to cover birth control. To Catholics, this goes against their religious beliefs. On Friday, the White House announced that there would be new provisions to the policy, which would force insurance companies to provide birth control to women for free, instead of forcing religious institutions to pay for birth control coverage. The insurance companies would also be prohibited from increasing the cost of insurance policies to compensate for the free birth control coverage. Now that employers don't have to specifically cover birth control, every woman will have access to birth control at an affordable price. For college women using birth control, this means more money in your pocket.

Visit the White House's website at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/10/president-obama-announces-new-policy-improve-access-contraception for more information.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Property Tax Assessments

Tax Results will be Case by Case

For the first time since 2002, properties assessments have been performed in the city of Pittsburgh. Despite the fact that several surrounding counties have gone decades without a reassessment, Allegheny County was forced to review its properties and set a new tax rate. Initially, local politicians and citizen groups were angered at the potential raises in property taxes, but recent studies have shown a much more complex relationship between the new values and the new taxes people will be paying.

Since property owners, landlords, and realtors set rent prices based on the property taxes they pay, as these new taxes raise or decrease, this will likely be reflected in the rent paid by students on local housing. These new effects will be experienced on a case by case basis, with many residents seeing a tax decrease and, potentially, a decrease in rent.

To find out how your property will be affected, first look up both its current and newly assessed price, using the following website:

<http://www2.alleghenycounty.us/reval/Search.aspx>

At first, the new sticker price may shock you. But here's some simple math to calculate the new tax.

Value * tax rate = taxes

So,

current value * .02941 = current taxes

new value * .01980 = new taxes

Now simply compare and see which one of these values is higher! If the current tax is higher, excellent! You're taxes are going down. If not, there are till things you can do. Mayor Ravenstahl, city Controller Michael lamb, and several council members have put programs in place to help you. If you are concerned about any of this, or any other questions, just send us an email! We're happy to help.

2012 Governmental Relations Committee

sgb.grc@gmail.com