Property Reassessment

November 8, 2008

Some unhappy with assessment rulings

Harveys Lake home on .13-acre lot and no dock valued at $570,70 by board.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Scott Crispell thought he had a solid case. His certified appraisal said his Harveys Lake residence on 0.13 acre was worth $150,000, and the property comes with no dock or access to the shoreline.

But the Luzerne County Assessment Appeals Board ruling that arrived in the mail Thursday indicated that his property was valued at $570,700, a $35,100 reduction. The assessment was knocked off the house, but the land remained at $400,000.

Crispell currently pays $1,700 in property taxes and expected some increase, but not such a drastic one. His taxes were projected to increase to $8,000 with the original value, and the county has not yet released the new millage rates to calculate his tax bill with the new assessed value.

“I find it unbelievable. I can’t believe a county government would do this to somebody. It’s just unfathomable,” Crispell said.

He said he can see the lake from his house, but the patio and garage consume the yard. A replacement home could not be built on the land because of newer setback requirements, he said.

“The footprint is very small. There’s no back yard,” Crispell said.

He also owns a single-family rental property in another part of the borough that he purchased for $59,500 three years ago in a “bidding war.” He obtained a certified appraisal that valued that property at about $50,000.

The appeals board ruling set the value of the house on 0.29 acre at $149,300, a reduction of $58,600. Crispell said the tenant’s rent covers the taxes and mortgage with no profit, so he will now lose money on the property because the tenant will leave if he raises the rent.

“They’re basically ruining an economy with these values. I feel they’re crushing us, and the commissioners haven’t been wise stewards of our money that they’ve already taken,” Crispell said.

Crispell said he is forced to challenge the rulings in court.

“I’m not going to roll over,” he said.

Kingston property owner George Kochis is also baffled by his new assessment board ruling. His North Gates Avenue bi-level on a 0.23-acre lot has been valued at $170,600 – a reduction of $1,600 from the original value.

Kochis obtained a certified appraisal that says his property is worth $97,000.

“There’s a train that runs through my back yard,” he said. “I followed the process and believed in the process, and I’m not happy.”

Kochis said he won’t appeal to court because he doesn’t want to pay another $111.75 in fees.

“I already paid $300 for another appraisal. They keep weakening the people with the cost of fighting this,” he said.

Tim Barr, of reassessment company 21st Century Appraisals Inc., said Friday that property owners should not expect their values to be equal to appraisals or recent sales.

“An appraisal is just an opinion of value,” he said.

Barr said assessed values must be “consistent with all sales in a neighborhood, not just one sale.”

“The value set by the appeal board is the board’s opinion of value based on all information presented,” Barr said.

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