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Reassessment Dallas Twp. property owner says he is not being treated fairly

July 5, 2008

Man threatens court action

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Dave Sebolka obtained a certified appraisal that says his Dallas Township home was worth $319,000 on Jan. 1 – the date being used for the reassessment.

The reassessment company, 21st Century Appraisals Inc., had valued his home at $493,500.

21st Century had proposed reducing the assessment to $414,800 when Sebolka pointed out several errors in measurement and the property description during his informal review, but Sebolka did not accept the reduction because he is filing a formal appeal.

Sebolka said he will go to court if his assessment isn’t dropped to $319,000 during a formal appeal.

His new appraisal is dated Jan. 1, 2008 – the date on which the new values are based – though he pointed out the state-certified appraiser noted on the appraisal that the local real estate market has gone down 8 percent to 10 percent since then.

“If they disallow the appraisal value and go by their own calculations, I’ll be in court. If I have to take it to the Supreme Court, I will,” Sebolka said.

Sebolka said he’s upset that the reassessment company posted key information about the property descriptions on its Web site after property owners in the first batch had already held their informal reviews.

That information dealt with the quality and condition of each property, which are among the nine key factors the company used to value properties.

Sebolka said he knows of property owners who have since received reductions in informal reviews by arguing that their quality and condition are not in line with other homes in their neighborhood.

He also noticed some original quality and condition rankings on properties in Luzerne Borough have been lowered on the Web site before those property owners went through informal reviews.

“They tweaked them down,” he said, speculating that complaints from property owners in the first batch prompted 21st Century to readjust.

“State law says the reassessment has to be totally fair for all and equal for all, but they’re changing this as they go along,” he said. “Therefore, the people in the very beginning are not being treated as fair and equally as the people now coming up.”

Tim Barr, of 21st Century Appraisals, said his company continues to do “maintenance and research” on specific properties and entire neighborhoods throughout the county.

“The truth is, any data out there is subject to change,” he said.

Barr said changes are based on continued review of property sales through Jan. 1 and evidence presented during informal reviews. Values are not adjusted based on taxpayer or media pressure, he said.

Barr said he discussed the nine top valuation factors during public meetings held before the new values were issued. Continued press coverage and interest in the reassessment will increase public education, which may benefit property owners in later batches, he said.

“Two months from now, people may be even more knowledgeable about reassessment,” he said.

Reassessment seminar

Formal appeal update

Address change reminder

North Penn Legal Services will offer a free seminar on reassessment July 9 in southern Luzerne County.

Attorneys will explain reassessment, what people should do if they believe their reassessed value is incorrect, and how to file an appeal. The seminar will include a mock assessment appeal hearing.

Speaking will be attorneys Daniel Miscavige of the law firm Gillespie, Miscavige, Ferdinand and Baranko, and Angelo Terrana, vice chairman of the Luzerne County Board of Assessment Appeals.

The seminar is scheduled from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Faith United Church of Christ, 21 Faith Drive, Hazle Township, off Airport Road behind Rex Appliance.

Nearly 200 Luzerne County property owners attended a similar seminar offered June 17 in Wilkes-Barre.

North Penn provides free legal services to low-income clients and senior citizens, but won’t be representing anyone in assessment appeals.

About 900 Luzerne County property owners have filed formal assessment appeals to date, according to the county.

Officials issued an alert Wednesday that property owners won’t be permitted to reschedule formal appeals once a date has been set.

Property owners have 40 days to appeal after the mailing of the assessed values and another 20 days to prepare before the date is set.

Several hundred Luzerne County property owners have failed to notify the county of address changes, which could prevent or delay their receipt of new assessed values, county officials warn.

County assessment director Tony Alu said the post office has forwarded some of these values to the new addresses. If that happens, property owners should ignore the 40-day appeal deadline stated on the new assessment notices, Alu said. Instead, property owners have 40 days from the date stamped on the envelope to file a formal appeal. Property owners should keep the envelope as evidence, Alu said.

Alu stressed the county is not liable for values that don’t reach property owners if the property owners have not notified the county of address changes.

Property owners may contact the reassessment company (1-877-570-8801 or 1-877-570-8802) to verify that their new value has been issued. To correct an address, contact the assessor’s office at 706-8409.

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