Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner wants to hear from property owners who think their new assessments are out of line.

Ms. Wagner announced today that her office will evaluate the county's $8 million in reassessment contracts with Tyler Technologies. Tyler's Cole Layer Trumble unit has provided staff, computer programs and expertise to assist the county with its efforts to revalue almost 600,000 real estate parcels.

More than 6,000 property owners in Pittsburgh and Mount Oliver already have challenged their new assessments.

Common Pleas Court Senior Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr., who is overseeing the project, ordered the county to complete the city and Mount Oliver first. Those properties represent about one-fourth of the county total.

"With even more reassessed values being released to property owners today, Allegheny County taxpayers are still in the dark about what went right, what went wrong and what needs to change in this process," Ms. Wagner said in the statement.

The county began mailing new assessments to property owners in suburbs east of Pittsburgh today.

The last of the new property values are to be sent out by March 2.

Judge Wettick has ruled that the new assessment numbers will not be used this year to calculate county, municipal or school district taxes. That delay will give property owners time to contest a property valuation they believe to be inaccurate.

Tax bills for 2012 will continue to use the 2002 base year numbers for one more year.

Property owners with concerns about questionable assessments can call the controller's office hotline at 412-350-7618 or send an e-mail to controller@alleghenycounty.us.