Property Reassessment

December 18, 2008

Some still upset over reassessment

One activist advised to file complaints with Pennsylvania Department of State.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Several Luzerne County property owners attended Wednesday’s county commissioner meeting to raise concerns about the reassessment.

Boyd Barber, of Harveys Lake, said he received a $117,000 reduction on his property through a formal assessment appeal, but the new value is still $345,400 more than the worth set by his certified appraiser.

Barber said his appraiser determined the property was worth $413,000, compared to the county’s value of $758,400.

He said he’s frustrated because he took the county’s advice to obtain an appraisal and go through the appeals process.

County officials urged him to file a court challenge to go to mediation.

“Will it do any good?” Barber asked.

One woman went to the podium crying and shaking, saying she is on medication and worries she’ll lose her home.

Appraiser Louis Pugh said he has encountered numerous examples of over- and under-valued properties, and he criticized the work of reassessment company 21st Century Appraisals Inc.

“21st Century did the worst job I’ve ever seen in my life of doing appraisals,” Pugh said.

Harveys Lake property owner Michelle Boice complained that the county failed to fulfill a promise to hear all appeals by Oct. 31, and she said thousands are still awaiting formal appeal rulings.

Boice handed out forms to property owners after the meeting, urging them to file complaints against 21st Century with the Pennsylvania Department of State, which licenses appraisers and certified property evaluators.

Six property owners attended an anti-reassessment rally in the courthouse rotunda before the meeting. Organizers said many interested property owners were unable to attend because of the weather.

Larksville property owner Nick Klem attended the rally and said he has filed a complaint with the Department of State. Klem said a department representative contacted him to ask follow-up questions.

21st Century officials have defended the company’s work, saying the county’s independent assessment expert concluded that the original values met industry appraisal standards.

Rally organizer Audrey Simpson complained during the rally about the work of the outside expert – the International Association of Assessing Officers.

Lorraine Hill, of Larksville, another rally attendee, said she’s convinced that many property owners don’t realize that property taxes may increase significantly in 2010, when taxing bodies no longer have to stick to a 10 percent, post-reassessment revenue cap.

“Then people will protest,” she predicted.

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