 In the 1990s , the City of Washington made several unsuccessful attempts to challenge the college 's tax @-@ exempt status . In 1993 , Washington appealed the Washington County Board of Assessment 's determination that the college was tax @-@ exempt . That case went to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court , which ruled in favor of the college . In response , the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a new law clarifying that colleges were tax @-@ exempt . Separately , the City of Washington passed an ordinance that levied a municipal " service fee " against the College students , which was ruled to be illegal and was struck down . In the late 1990s , the college and town tried to mend fences through the Blueprint for Collaboration , a plan with detailed goals and benchmarks for the future to help the College and the city work together on economic development , environmental protection , and historic preservation . 
