© Copyright 2010 The Times Leader. All Rights Reserved.
The Times Leader 15 N. Main Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
(570) 829-7101 or (800) 427-8649
Background
Luzerne County is conducting a reassessment because a countywide rebalancing hasn’t been done since 1965, leaving the county with one of the most out-of-whack property tax bases in the state.
Commissioners voted in July 2003 to conduct the reassessment and hired 21st Century Appraisals Inc.
The values were originally supposed to be mailed in 2006, but the previous administration delayed the project twice.
Taxes based on the new values will take effect in 2009. All formal assessment appeals must be heard by Oct. 31 to be counted for your 2009 taxes. Formal Assessment Appeal Tips
Property owners with questions about the reassessment should call 21st Century. To reach the center, call 1-877-570-8801 for northern county residents and 1-877-570-8802 for southern county residents.
Primary Author
Jennifer Learn-Andes
jandes@timesleader.com
Loading... |
Property Reassessments
Important Links
- Update Values: March 2010 Luzerne County Property Assessments
The latest assessment values for all Luzerne County properties. Values are released about once per year.
- Carbon County Property Assessments
- Lackawanna County Property Assessments
- Luzerne County Deed Transfer Database
- Ask Your Reassessment Questions
John Van Allen - Times Leader Expert answers questions about Property Assessment.
- Formal Assessment Appeal Tips
Official tips from Luzerne County for formally appealing you new assessment.
- 30 days to appeal formal ruling
Review the Times Leader's November 11, 2008 article that outlines the formal appeal process.
Latest Headlines
March 5, 2010
TL offers new assessment values
Luzerne County assessments have been shifting because of appeals and court-level challenges, and The Times Leader offers the only free online database to check out the latest values.March 3, 2010
Assessment appeals can backfire
Some Luzerne County property owners are getting assessment reductions through court-level mediation, only to learn that new appeals they filed for 2010 are jacking up their values again.February 25, 2010
Property case dismissal rejected
A Luzerne County senior judge has determined that Victor Kopko has the right to continue fighting his property assessment in court, even though he sold the Hanover Township property in question.February 16, 2010
Property mediation half over
Luzerne County has passed the halfway mark processing court-level assessment challenges stemming from the countywide reassessment, records show.January 29, 2010
Reassessment under Pa. review
In response to complaints from property owners against 21st Century Appraisals president Robert Barr, an expert in mass assessment techniques is reviewing Luzerne County’s reassessment process for the state.October 24, 2009
Owner gets $1M off original assessment
Prominent local engineering company owner Michael J. Pasonick, who has been identified by an attorney as paying a bribe in the county corruption scandal, was granted a nearly $1 million assessment reduction on his Plains Township home, public records show.September 29, 2009
Reassess cuts over $50M
Louis Rossi scoffed at the original $20,000 assessment on his 15-by-32-foot plot on Grant Street in Hazleton.September 22, 2009
Outside judge eyes assess case
WILKES-BARRE – A Centre County judge is mulling over whether to allow 21st Century Appraisals – the company that performed Luzerne County’s reassessment – to intervene in the assessment appeal of a Hanover Township man.September 6, 2009
Fight about lake homes valuations not finished
Around this time last year, Harveys Lake property owners were talking of breaking away from Luzerne County because they were so outraged over new assessed values that threatened ballooning tax bills.September 5, 2009
W-B may use county assessment figures
WILKES-BARRE -- Mayor Tom Leighton said Friday he will eventually recommend that council adopt Luzerne County’s property assessment figures, but he won’t make that call until he is certain that the city won’t lose any revenues with the switch.August 21, 2009
Mediation cuts tax base by $47.8M
Luzerne County property assessment mediation settlements are coming in fast and furious, with 680 settled since December.August 11, 2009
TL online site offering assessment data
Property owners once again have a free way to research the latest Luzerne County assessments online because The Times Leader has updated its database.August 4, 2009
Assess case reassigned
A controversial Luzerne County reassessment court case will be reassigned to an out-of-county judge.July 18, 2009
Assessments drop $7.3M in latest property owner wins
Luzerne County property owners continue to get satisfaction negotiating assessment reductions at mediation.July 10, 2009
Comparing property taxes in towns
Property taxes are $3,400 on a house worth $150,000 in Pittston city.July 10, 2009
School property tax bills coming
The most significant pocketbook impact of Luzerne County’s reassessment – pleasant or not -- will be felt in coming weeks as school property tax bills arrive in the mail.June 30, 2009
Reassess case brings legal clash
The company hired to reassess Luzerne County property values had argued in court that the county has a contractual obligation to pay the company to manage and defend the county against Hanover Township resident Vic Kopko’s property assessment court challenge.June 24, 2009
Official’s house left off tax rolls
The Luzerne County Assessor’s Office has failed to fully value and tax a Rice Township residential property that’s on the market for an asking price of $649,000.June 18, 2009
Reassess delay vexes owner
Maria Guerriero is months behind other Luzerne County property owners resolving her reassessment property value because the county Assessment Appeals Board didn’t rule on her assessment until last month.June 5, 2009
Nuke plant remains at top of highest assessed property list
June 2, 2009
New law firm in reassessment case
May 29, 2009
Commissioners seek new law firm for reassessment
May 28, 2009
Assess mediation process defended
May 28, 2009
Appeal settled after $373,200 reduction
May 27, 2009
Mericle’s home gets higher assessment rate
May 15, 2009
Reassessing reassessment
May 12, 2009
Consultant: Assessors’ work fine
May 12, 2009
Man’s reassessment case on hold
May 9, 2009
21st Century wants in on property case
May 1, 2009
Top property values drop $11.1M
April 27, 2009
Mediation reductions add up to $17.5 million
April 12, 2009
Assessed values vs. sales prices
April 8, 2009
Access to firm online database concludes
March 29, 2009
Scoring a success the second time
March 27, 2009
Reassessment appeals go on
March 14, 2009
Man to challenge total reassessment
March 3, 2009
Board accused of halting revisions
February 26, 2009
Mediation for assess appeals to continue
February 25, 2009
Handling of assessment challenges under review
February 21, 2009
County to speed up mediations of property assessments
February 18, 2009
Petition to protest reassessment
February 6, 2009
Assessed values cut by $3.9M
February 5, 2009
About 2,000 challenged assessments
January 29, 2009
New group plans to file reassess suit
January 23, 2009
Urban: Assessments appealable every year
January 23, 2009
21st Century closing its W-B office
January 22, 2009
Building adjusted by $8.4M
January 16, 2009
Mediation reduces values by $2.05 million for 40
January 14, 2009
Decision in appeal is shock to owner
January 10, 2009
Reassessment suit is on way, activist claims
January 8, 2009
Taxes due before reassessment end
January 7, 2009
Owners file state complaints
January 7, 2009
Anti-tax group plots strategy
January 6, 2009
Firm: Taxes to be below early estimate
January 6, 2009
Harveys Lake man set to advance to arbitration
January 3, 2009
Assessment mediation working for some owners
December 18, 2008
Some still upset over reassessment
December 17, 2008
Public assessment release angers man
December 13, 2008
Budget-makers deal in risky business
December 11, 2008
Assessment mediations total $87,400
December 9, 2008
4,853 appeal rulings to go out Wednesday
December 9, 2008
Reassessment firm criticized
December 6, 2008
Assessment court appeals at 9.5 percent
December 5, 2008
Mediation meetings on values begin
December 4, 2008
Assessment rulings to be mailed
November 26, 2008
Parcels’ tax rates detailed
November 25, 2008
Dec. 20 earliest rest of rulings will be mailed
November 23, 2008
Figures show tax value shift
November 20, 2008
Challenges to formal county appeal board rulings at 74
November 15, 2008
$1.3 billion shaved from values
November 14, 2008
New twist in assessment mediation
November 13, 2008
Owners: Appraisals overlooked
November 12, 2008
Assessment ruling delay criticized
November 11, 2008
30 days to appeal formal ruling
November 8, 2008
Assessment lawsuit now uncertain
November 8, 2008
Mediation step now added to appeal
November 8, 2008
Some unhappy with assessment rulings
November 7, 2008
Assessment mediation next challenge
November 7, 2008
Formal appeal decisions mailed
November 4, 2008
Assessment appeal rulings out Wednesday
November 2, 2008
Combining adjoining parcels on the rise
October 31, 2008
Big ’10 tax hit possible if no fix for budget
October 28, 2008
Formal appeal decisions on way
October 18, 2008
2009 taxes may be lower than on estimates
October 10, 2008
Reassess won’t see any delay
October 3, 2008
Crunch time for property appeals
October 2, 2008
Lake sites see huge reduction
September 30, 2008
Reassessment exec’s vehicle vandalized
September 27, 2008
Reassessment price exceeds $9M when all expenses tallied
September 25, 2008
County may hear appeals beyond October 31
September 25, 2008
Reassessment delay draws scorn
September 25, 2008
Rural property owners can get tax break
September 24, 2008
Assessment court appeals onerous
September 23, 2008
Reassessment topic of WVIA program
September 23, 2008
Reassessment opponents appeal for allies
September 20, 2008
Property owners may sue
September 18, 2008
Reassess batch to be mailed
September 16, 2008
Skrep to again try to delay reassess
September 12, 2008
Shiner: Reassessment to hit target
September 12, 2008
Harveys Lake appeal held
September 11, 2008
Realtor: Most Harveys Lake homes sell for under $200,000
September 10, 2008
Pa. court weighs tax assessments
September 10, 2008
Homeowners plan legal fight
September 9, 2008
Phased-in reassessed tax hikes fail legal test
September 8, 2008
Firm has small sheds on tax rolls
September 6, 2008
100 file formal assessment appeals on old values, officials say
September 6, 2008
Condition of newer homes questioned
September 5, 2008
Residents get support over ‘great rooms’
September 4, 2008
Assessment revisions, corrections not in mail yet
September 4, 2008
‘Great rooms’ values causing disagreement
September 2, 2008
Assessment to drop by $37 million
September 2, 2008
Barr: Data collectors had extensive training
August 29, 2008
More reassessment complaints
August 29, 2008
Board to hear appeals on Saturdays
August 28, 2008
Resident denies reassess threats
August 27, 2008
Reassessment firm to mail revised notices
August 27, 2008
New values of properties in West Pittston debated
August 27, 2008
Lawyer: Is there enough time left for reassessment hearings?
August 27, 2008
More want to be Clean and Green, but many more out there eligible
August 25, 2008
Gun threat brings police
August 25, 2008
Testy reassess debate goes on
August 24, 2008
Collapse raises reassess concerns
August 22, 2008
Owner supports reassessment
August 21, 2008
Reassess delay denied
August 20, 2008
UPDATE: Motion to delay reassessment dies on floor
August 20, 2008
Homeowners face property dilemma
August 19, 2008
More are no-shows at formal appeals
August 18, 2008
What protesters had to say
August 18, 2008
Protesters cry out for delay, heckle Petrilla
August 18, 2008
Testy words over delay
August 18, 2008
Reassessment suit? Lawyer sees potential
August 17, 2008
Reassess protest scheduled
August 17, 2008
Reassessment anger could swamp boat - Richard L. Connor opinion
August 15, 2008
Hazleton: ‘Delay or reject’ reassessment
August 15, 2008
Skrep calls for reassessment delay
August 15, 2008
Skrepenak calls for indefinte reassessment delay
August 15, 2008
County exploring 30-day extension
August 14, 2008
Commissioners exploring 30-day reassessment delay
August 14, 2008
Appraisers ask for more time
August 14, 2008
Harveys Lake residents mull secession to Wyoming County
August 13, 2008
Auxiliary board appeals questioned
August 11, 2008
Map office aid limited, boss says
August 11, 2008
Sunshine Law being violated?
August 10, 2008
Reassessment won’t affect state’s Act 1 tax cut
August 9, 2008
The Property Tax Puzzle
August 9, 2008
Pittston Township zeroes in on reassessment
August 9, 2008
Harveys Lake values test appraiser
August 8, 2008
Appeals deadline means pressure on
August 8, 2008
Elderly property owners in bind
August 8, 2008
W-B backs delaying reassess
August 8, 2008
Harveys Lake resident: Value off over $400K
August 7, 2008
Couple post sign of protest
August 7, 2008
Study: Some sales figures don’t match values
August 6, 2008
Pittston Twp. meeting eyes reassessment
August 6, 2008
Delay in reassessment process doubted
August 5, 2008
Structure mistakes add to misgivings
August 3, 2008
Official has 21st Century in sights
August 1, 2008
Appeals board bans video, cell cameras
August 1, 2008
Skrepenak: Experts contacted
August 1, 2008
Barr outlines 2 delay options
July 30, 2008
Reassess revisions available in Sept.
July 29, 2008
Homeowner shows signs of discontent with taxes
July 29, 2008
Tough wait for decision
July 29, 2008
Protest to Overturn Reassessments
July 27, 2008
15,000 sales used for reassess
July 26, 2008
Reassess protesters eye rally
July 26, 2008
Barr to limit appearances
July 25, 2008
Mix-ups bedevil owners
July 24, 2008
Woman’s property value to drop by $430,000
July 24, 2008
New value ups owner’s taxes more than $5,000
July 23, 2008
Municipal percentages calculated
July 22, 2008
Industrial/commercial burden dips
July 22, 2008
Skrepenak eyes reassessment delay to wait on state reform
July 20, 2008
Grassroots petition drive aimed at reassessment
July 20, 2008
Muni leaders prefer reassessment delay
July 20, 2008
Reassessment clubs golfers
July 19, 2008
Appeal system a time saver, official says
July 19, 2008
42% see big value hikes so far
July 18, 2008
21st Century official addresses public’s criticisms
July 18, 2008
21st Century faces standards
July 18, 2008
Mobile-home owner says delay would be blow to her
July 18, 2008
Silence broken by pro-reassess group
July 17, 2008
County reassessment might be postponed
July 16, 2008
21st Century releases letter addressing complaints
July 16, 2008
$2.7B in county is tax-exempt
July 16, 2008
Exeter Twp. land owner ‘betrayed’
July 16, 2008
Lawsuit mulled over value appeals process
July 16, 2008
Harvey Lake residents criticize reassessment
July 16, 2008
Reassessment process blasted
July 15, 2008
Homeowners: Delay reassessment
July 12, 2008
Pond puts landowner on the ‘waterfront’
July 12, 2008
Assessment officials’ properties see hikes
July 12, 2008
Like real estate, location matters
July 11, 2008
New property assessments available online
July 11, 2008
Municipal figures not out of line
July 11, 2008
Complexity rules in valuing land
July 11, 2008
Official: Many unprepared for appeals
July 10, 2008
Appraisals raise ire in Tioga County
July 10, 2008
Assessments duplicated
July 9, 2008
Pricey properties see big hikes
July 9, 2008
Formal appeals must be filed by deadline on notice
July 8, 2008
Property owners face new hurdle
July 8, 2008
Reassessment review upsets woman
July 7, 2008
2 bills aim at limiting reassess
July 4, 2008
Makowski questions assessment
July 4, 2008
Urban checks out $60K garage gripe
July 3, 2008
Formal tax appeals are under way
July 2, 2008
W-B has yet to OK new values
July 2, 2008
Nuke plant county’s top assessed property
July 2, 2008
Commercial property figures mailed, posted
July 1, 2008
Long lines and short tempers
June 29, 2008
Commercial properties’ values coming
June 27, 2008
$607K value based on several mistakes, woman says
June 26, 2008
Man threatens court action
June 25, 2008
Reassessment forces look at some tough questions
June 24, 2008
Preserved property program growing
June 24, 2008
Mixed response to Hazleton’s reassessed values
June 22, 2008
Reassessment affects escrow accounts
June 21, 2008
Lawyers not needed at informal reviews
June 21, 2008
Deferral for low-income possible
June 20, 2008
County: Reassess won’t be delayed
June 19, 2008
Reassessment called ‘fiasco’
June 18, 2008
Advice dispensed on appeals
June 17, 2008
Taxing bodies not in for windfall
June 16, 2008
Appraisals rep gives his advice
June 14, 2008
Hanover Twp. property owners eye suit
June 13, 2008
Property values rapped in Hazleton
June 13, 2008
Open spaces included in home footage
June 12, 2008
Questions raised about property value factors
June 11, 2008
Some factors carry more reassessment weight
June 11, 2008
Couple’s homework results in $81K assessment cut
June 10, 2008
Formal appeals likely to start by end of June
June 9, 2008
25,000 more reassessed values ready
June 6, 2008
Century 21: We’re not assessors
June 5, 2008
Missed swimming pools likely to be documented
June 4, 2008
Seniors discuss reassessment
June 4, 2008
50 formal assessment appeals are requested
June 3, 2008
Next lot of values set to be delivered
June 3, 2008
Jackson Twp.’s focus: Sewers, reassessment
June 1, 2008
OUR OPINION: Reassessment imperfect but right move by county
May 30, 2008
2 assessments cut after errors shown
May 29, 2008
’08 school tax not affected
May 29, 2008
Appeal? Expert says prepare
May 29, 2008
Land value reviews under way
May 28, 2008
Commentary | Scott Wasser: Reassessment numbers far from reality
May 28, 2008
Reps given good marks
May 28, 2008
Contacting reassessment firm took time
May 24, 2008
First assessed values in mail
May 23, 2008
New property values should begin arriving Saturday
May 22, 2008
Reassessment training begins
May 21, 2008
Firm fails to mail new assessed values
May 15, 2008
Tuesday start for mailing of values
May 14, 2008
County officials nervous about mailings
May 14, 2008
First reassessments set to be mailed out May 20
May 7, 2008
Assessment reductions will be made public, county officials say
May 6, 2008
Possible mail delay for new values
April 20, 2008
City to use County property values for taxation
April 9, 2008
Clean and Green fliers going to 7,000 land owners
April 6, 2008
Neighbors may gripe about your new value
April 5, 2008
Wilkes Barre's or county’s assessed values?
Most Viewed Property Reassessment Stories in Past 7 Days
1. TL offers new assessment values
2. Assessment appeals can backfire
3. Assessed values vs. sales prices
4. TL online site offering assessment data
5. Owner gets $1M off original assessment
6. Comparing property taxes in towns
7. New property assessments available online
8. School property tax bills coming
Most E-Mailed Property Reassessment Stories in Past 7 Days
1. Reassess delay vexes owner
2. Reassess won’t see any delay
3. Comparing property taxes in towns
The Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company