Property Reassessment

July 12, 2008

Assessment officials’ properties see hikes

Appeals board members see reassessment increases on some of what they own.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Luzerne County’s three permanent assessment appeals board members received some increases on their own properties as part of the reassessment.

The board oversees the county assessor’s office and helped to monitor the reassessment.

Appeals board Chairman Andrew Shiner said board members did not get involved in the valuation of their own properties before the values were issued by reassessment company 21st Century Appraisals Inc.

Here’s how Shiner was impacted on his properties, comparing the current market value equivalent to the new assessed value, according to the reassessment company’s online database:

• Home on 1 acre in Sugarloaf Township. Current, $235,200; new, $321,200.

• Home on 42.2 acres in Wright Township. Current, $86,400; new, $270,800. The value will decrease to $169,100 if Shiner participates in the Clean and Green land preservation program.

• Vacant 0.49-acre residential lot in Sugarloaf Township. Current, $34,800; new, $43,300.

Shiner received decreases on a commercial office building in Sugarloaf Township.

The database lists two office building parcels. The first went from $93,200 to $76,800. The other parcel decreased from $93,200 to $80,600.

Shiner said he has not decided if he will challenge the new values.

“I really haven’t sat down to look at them closely. Some seem high, and some seem in line,” he said.

The other two appeals board members – Angelo Terrana and Richard Oravic – could not be reached for comment on their new values.

Terrana owns two properties, according to the database.

The value for a home on 0.22 acre in Plains Township increased from $230,200 to $344,500.

His Harveys Lake townhouse went from a value of $185,000 to $347,700.

Oravic’s home on 0.11 acre in Ashley went from a value of $47,200 to $68,600.

He also owns a 0.28-acre vacant parcel in Huntington Township that increased from a value of $6,200 to $33,600.

The reassessment company has not placed a value on his seasonal structure on 0.13 acre in Huntington Township.

Shawn Palsgrove, of the reassessment company 21st Century Appraisals Inc., said the parcel is pending review. Oravic purchased the property for $20,000 in September 2007, the database says.

Properties categorized as seasonal are used less than half a year.

Tim Barr of 21st Century has said his company treated all properties the same and did not pay attention to the identities of the owners.

Formal appeal reminder

Luzerne County officials advised property owners that they don’t have to bring four copies of their certified appraisals for formal assessment appeals. Some property owners mistakenly thought that was a requirement.

Instead, property owners should bring one copy of the appraisal to submit as evidence.

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

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