Property Reassessment

December 6, 2008

Assessment court appeals at 9.5 percent

So far 853 owners are challenging the newly assigned values in court.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Another 174 property assessment court challenges were filed in the Luzerne County Prothonotary’s Office Friday, bringing the total count to 853.

These challenges stem from the 9,000 county appeal board decisions mailed last month, which means that 9.5 percent were challenged in court.

Property owners have 30 days from the date of the mailed appeal board decision to file a court challenge, and Friday was the filing deadline for those who received decisions last month.

The number of court challenges will increase because another 9,000 or more county appeal board rulings have not been mailed. A batch is planned for mailing Wednesday, though county officials won’t know the number of rulings that will be sent until Monday.

County officials have estimated that anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 court challenges will be filed.

Court challenges start with mediation, and 15 mediation conferences have been held this week.

The county appeal board said in a press release Friday that the number of mediation conferences will increase to roughly 20 to 40 per week in January.

That means the first wave of 853 mediation conferences will likely spill into June.

A public record of all mediation outcomes will be available in the prothonotary’s office. Sam Guesto, county specialty courts director, is presiding over the mediation. and plans to start filing reports next week.

Mediation settlements must be approved by both the property owner and county assessment appeal board Solicitor David Schwager.

In its release, the board said procedures have been implemented to ensure “fairness and accountability” in the court challenge process, including a written audit trail involving the assessment director, the board, Schwager and assessor’s office senior certified property evaluators.

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

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