News

November 12, 2008

Assessment ruling delay criticized

Man says county delay makes it difficult for him to decide on long-term insurance.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
Jennifer Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

Howard Stigben’s long-term care insurance will expire Nov. 23 if he doesn’t pay the $4,033 premium, but he says he can’t pay that bill until he receives his formal assessment appeal ruling because he might need that money for his 2009 taxes.

His formal assessment appeal was on July 15, and Stigben was told by appeal board members that he’d have a ruling by the end of October.

However, his ruling wasn’t among the 9,000 mailed on Nov. 5, leaving him in limbo.

He isn’t alone. Up to 4,000 Luzerne County property owners who had formal appeals before Oct. 31 have not yet received their rulings.

The reassessment company – 21st Century Appraisals Inc. – can’t mail these rulings until the county assessor’s office finishes auditing them.

It’s unclear how long Stigben and the others must wait, because a date has not been set for another mailing of notices. Options include another batch mailing at the end of November or a mass mailing of all remaining rulings in December. About 5,000 formal appeals have been scheduled for November, and more are expected in December.

Stigben, 74, said either option will be too late for him to salvage his long-term care insurance.

Taxes on his Franklin Township property were projected to increase from $1,400 to $4,200 on his new assessed value of $251,700.

He obtained a certified appraisal that said the property is worth $170,000. He also provided proof that his property was damaged by 2006 flooding and continues to sustain basement flooding when it rains.

Stigben said he lives on Social Security and a small pension, so the long-term care insurance is the only expense he can cut to come up with the money for a tax increase.

If he had received an estimate around Oct. 31 as promised, he would be able to estimate his 2009 taxes and determine if he could afford the long-term care insurance, even if he has to negotiate coverage to lower the premium.

Stigben said he can’t pay the long-term care premium at the risk of getting behind on his taxes.

“It’s no use having long-term care insurance if I can’t pay my taxes and lose my home,” he said.

Stigben said he doubts he will be able to acquire affordable long-term insurance again if he drops his current plan because he’s had two operations for cancer. He wants the insurance so he and his wife aren’t saddled with out-of-pocket expenses that would force them to sell the home they bought in 1962.

“The county doesn’t know the kind of predicament they’re putting people in,” Stigben said of the delays. “There should be no excuse. They’ve already had four months to make a decision on my value.”

The county Board of Assessment Appeals oversees the mailing schedule, and board Chairman Andy Shiner could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla said she meets regularly with the board and will request the rulings be mailed as soon as possible.

“The sooner people know, the better. We’ve had a great working relationship with the board, so I’m sure they’ll consider the request,” Petrilla said.

Tim Barr, of reassessment company 21st Century Appraisals Inc., stressed that the 30-day clock to challenge appeal board rulings does not start ticking until property owners receive their rulings in the mail.

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews

This story also appears on the following websites...