Q: What is the immediate effect of Common Pleas Judge R. Wettick Jr.'s ruling on my property taxes?

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A: Nothing. The ruling gives the county until March 31 to perform a computer-assisted reassessment. That means the base-year system will be in effect until the 2009 property taxes are levied. However, if the case is still working its way through the courts, Judge Wettick's order will not take effect until 2010, meaning the computer-assisted reassessment will not have to be completed until March 31, 2009, for the reassessment to go into effect in 2010. County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said he doesn't plan to comply with the time lines.

Q: What will happen if the ruling is upheld by the courts and I live in a community where property values are rising?

A: If you live in a community such as Marshall, where all of the values are rising, then your tax bill should stay fairly stable but the township and school district are going to have to lower the millage rates.

Q: What if I live in a community where the values are falling?

A: If you live in a community such as Braddock, where the property values are dropping, but it is in a school district with communities where the values are rising, then your school tax bill will most likely fall. However, the borough will have to raise the millage rate to keep its own revenues stable, so the amount you pay may not change much.

Q: What if I live in another county that uses the "base-year" system. Does this ruling affect me?

A: Not yet. The ruling at this point applies only to Allegheny County. However, if the state Supreme Court upholds the decision on an appeal, the ruling would have statewide impact. At that point, the state Legislature may be forced to rewrite assessment law to meet constitutional requirements.