The judge overseeing Allegheny County's controversial reassessment today said he will consider delaying implementation of the new property values until 2013.

Common Pleas Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr. made the remark after a formal request from Pittsburgh Public Schools to delay using the new numbers. He will rule on the district's request at a status conference set for 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Lawyer Paul N. Lalley, representing the city public schools, wrote in a letter delivered today that using the just-released 2012 property values would make it difficult for the school board to set an accurate millage rate for this year.

Too many successful appeals could dramatically reduce the total tax base -- which is used to determine millage rates and tax bills -- and leave the already financially strapped district short of funds, Mr. Lalley said.

"This does seem to be a serious problem," Judge Wettick said. "We may have to move [application of the new assessments] to the following year."

That delay until January 2013 would give all residents time to request both informal hearings and make formal appeals of their new property values.

Judge Wettick made the comment at a status conference to review progress on the $11 million reassessment project. In all previous meetings to discuss assessment, the judge has been adamant about using the new numbers this year to set property tax rates for the city, the county and all other municipalities and school districts.

Most political leaders, including county Executive Rich Fitzgerald, have opposed reassessment completely, arguing that it unfairly targeted Allegheny County, because other counties continue to use much older numbers. A spokesman for Mr. Fitzgerald said he had no immediate comment on the judge's remarks.

Mr. Fitzgerald, who took office Tuesday, has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference talk to discuss assessments.