Property Reassessment

August 11, 2009

TL online site offering assessment data

Free service for property owners fills a void after county firm’s online database ended in April.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
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Property owners once again have a free way to research the latest Luzerne County assessments online because The Times Leader has updated its database.

Public access to the county reassessment company’s online database ended in April, prompting continued complaints from taxpayers who relied on the site for research.

Without the county site, property owners have been forced to visit the courthouse to obtain the latest values. Many values have changed in recent months because of assessment appeals and mediation settlements.

Assessments as of June 2009 – the latest available from the county – have been loaded onto the newspaper site at www.timesleader.com. Click on the “local property assessment database” box on the left side of the page to access the database.

The site shows the property owner and address, the lot size and the assessment as of June. The database also calculates school, county and municipal taxes based on approved millage rates.

Searches may be done by streets if property owners want to check out other properties in their neighborhood.

County Assessment Director Tony Alu said he supplied the values to the newspaper at no cost because the free online site is a public service not offered by the county. He regularly refers property owners to the newspaper database if they are unable to visit his office.

The county discontinued access to reassessment company 21st Century Appraisals Inc.’s site for budgetary reasons. The county paid $2,000 per month to provide the database during reassessment.

Property owners may buy a subscription to 21st Century’s database for $9.95 for three days, $49.95 per month, $149.95 for 90 days or $500 per year. 21st Century said the fee is needed to cover software, server and maintenance costs.

Alu said property data are also available for public viewing at the county assessor’s office, which is located in the basement of the courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Access is also available on two public terminals in the county’s southern office in West Hazleton, he said.

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

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