Clearfield County residents press commissioners over assessment-ratio change and 1-mill increase; board approves routine measures

Clearfield County commissioners defended a change in the county's property-assessment ratio and a separate 1-mill tax increase for 2025 during public comment at a county meeting where residents urged the board to reverse the actions.

The board said it changed the county's predetermined assessed-value ratio from 25% to 50% while reducing the millage rate by 50%, a combination officials said left the immediate tax owed by county property owners unchanged. Commissioners also voted earlier to enact a 1-mill tax increase for 2025, a separate decision the board said was taken publicly and is available in its recorded meeting videos.

Why it matters: Residents told the commissioners that the change in the assessment ratio — even with the millage reduction — creates a structural capacity for future millage increases that could raise property-tax bills significantly. Several public commenters cited county fund balances and budget priorities as reasons the board should reconsider the tax action.

"We would like you to reverse your decision and put the percentage back to 25% because that's what the people wanted last year," said Morris of Morris Township during the public-comment period.

Former county commissioner Tony Yankovich disputed the need for a millage increase and cited county account balances he said were available from records he requested. "At the end of 2024, the county was sitting on about $6,400,000 in the general fund and $6,400,000 in the operating reserve fund," Yankovich said. He also said the county held more than $1 million in…