Lack of effective leadership is a problem

Regarding a recent article in The Mercury about assessment appeals and the effect of how they impact municipal and school taxes, assessments are no different than a report card for which you would receive in school. As real estate is based on a value for which a property is appraised or its comparable sales. Are we, the property owners, to blame or those for whom we placed the responsibility as custodians in managing our municipality? As an investor, who has no vote in Pottstown elections, my only ability to judge your performance is in the assessment appeal process.

When communities perform and are managed correctly, the asset (real estate) has a greater appreciation, and therefore a greater value. How does one evaluate performance honestly? Much of Pottstown is and has been over assessed since 1998, and many homeowners lack the understanding or fear the process of challenging their assessment. As in many municipalities, elections are based on a popularity contest. Many for whom we elect would struggle with the most basic understanding of economics and one would question if they could define the word fiduciary?

We the people, through re-election, allow the same ineffective people to keep their positions for which they are not qualified and then get upset with subpar performances. Have we really done our best to set policies that create incentives to bring jobs? Do we have policies that give incentives to people to better their homes? Not really! Our codes department is inconsistent in its message, and lacks understanding of their real purpose.

Real estate was once a must-have asset to feel accomplished in life. An asset which would appreciate in time. Today, in Pottstown, the appreciation we see in our real estate values could be argued that people have nowhere else to go. It is an affordability question. As other communities grow and create higher real estate values through effective leadership. Our leaders stand today gratified and thinking they’ve done the best they could and question those who challenge their basic right to an assessment appeal.

One could say it is those who do question assessments are the ones who do understand the definition of the word fiduciary. For they have a fiduciary responsibility to themselves, their businesses and their communities and to grade their community honestly. For through the process, of an assessment appeal, they are being responsible, effective leaders of their financial interest.

If the custodians of our municipalities could effectively lead, then the assessment question would not be a question at all.