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Residents urge transparency on countywide reassessment; commissioners outline appeal process and relief options
Summary
Multiple residents used public comment to press Lackawanna County commissioners for greater transparency over a countywide property reassessment and its tax impact. Commissioners described existing appeal steps, a reassessment relief initiative and potential options to ease the tax burden for vulnerable residents.
Dozens of residents addressed the Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners on April 16 pressing for transparency and protections related to the county’s ongoing reassessment process, which participants said has produced large valuation increases and uncertainty for homeowners, seniors and small property owners.
Residents described receiving tentative reassessment notices and said they lack access to comparable valuations countywide before the informal appeal deadline. Suzanne Green of Benton Township told commissioners she had sampled properties in Thorn (Troop) and reported average increases that, when applied to a large industrial parcel, would produce an outsized assessed value. Sharon Soltisperano and others said other Pennsylvania counties provide preliminary valuation details publicly and urged Lackawanna County to do the same so taxpayers can file accurate appeals.
Commissioner Chris Chermak acknowledged residents’ fear and urged people to…
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