NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Northumberland County Commissioners unanimously voted to move forward with a property tax reassessment, which hasn't been done in the county since the 1970s.
Officials in Northumberland County say they've been talking about reassessing taxable properties for the past two decades.
"Everybody seemed to be afraid to do it, elected officials, but we found a way, you know, to do it without any increase in our tax base and without raising taxes to do the reassessment itself," said Samuel Schiccatano, Northumberland County Commissioner Chairman. "After a lot of research, we decided it's the best thing to do, and we're doing it now."
Northumberland County Commissioner Chairman Samuel Schiccatano says the reassessment can offset the increasing cost of salaries and medical insurance for county employees. Commissioners say they want to offer salaries equivalent to those in other states.
"Right now, the reassessment is something we think will be more fair for people, it will be more fair for their properties. Some people, again, haven't been assessed for such a long time, and now we're gonna go out--and I just found out the other day we have 49,000 parcels, and each one of those parcels will be visited individually, so that's a good thing."
The reassessment, which will take place over a three-year period, is expected to cost the county around $3 million. Schiccatano says that after three years, the county cannot collect any more taxes than they are right now.
"The only way the taxes will go up is if your school district or your municipality or the county decide to vote to raise your taxes. Reassessment does not bring any more money in."
Assessors will consider property improvements and the location of each property when determining the final value.
"When you do a reassessment, three things happen--some people go up, some people go down, and some stay the same," explained Schiccatano.
Commissioners hired Tyler Technologies to carry out the property tax reassessment. Schiccanto says the company will set up offices in the area and then visit properties starting in January.