Harrison Township and the Highlands School District will lose thousands of dollars in tax revenue after ATI successfully appealed the assessment value of one of its township properties.
Allegheny County initially approved a reduction from $3.9 million to $1.2 million for 1300 Pacific Ave. for the years 2024-26. Highlands appealed that decision, and the parties have since reached a tentative agreement for a $1.4 million assessment — a $2.5 million reduction.
A final decision rests with the county.
The building, still listed as Allegheny Ludlum Steel on county records, is the company’s technical center. The property is used as office space and an industrial facility.
Harrison Manager Amy Rockwell said the township commissioners voted in favor of the settlement proposal. They are waiting for further updates regarding the county’s position.
Highlands stands to lose the most, about $204,000 over the three-year period.
With a district tax rate of 25.13 mills, the yearly tax revenue from the ATI property will fall from $98,000 to about $30,100.
In Harrison, the loss will be less drastic, amounting to about $40,000.
ATI would have paid the township a total of about $63,950 in taxes for three years, compared to a total of about $23,500 under the proposed reassessed value.
“The initial reduction in assessed value resulted in approximately $43,567 in lost tax revenue to the township for tax years 2024 to 2026,” Rockwell said.
The proposed settlement would allow the township to recapture about $3,200 of that.
ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said the company routinely compares assessed values to third-party valuation estimates.
“When there are material differences, we proactively engage with the relevant tax authority through their appeals process,” she said.
“ATI will continue to pay its fair share of taxes under this settlement,” Gillespie said.