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Centre County moves appeals filing date to Aug. 1, raises residential fee
Summary
The Centre County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 2 of 2026 to move the annual assessment-appeals filing date from Sept. 1 to Aug. 1 (effective 08/01/2026), with a one-year grace period through Sept. 1, 2026, and raised the residential filing fee from $25 to $35.
Mark Kellerman, director in the Assessments Department, told the Centre County Board of Commissioners that Resolution 2 of 2026 would move the county’s annual assessment-appeals filing date from Sept. 1 to Aug. 1 beginning Aug. 1, 2026, and provide a one-year transition window accepting filings through Sept. 1, 2026. “The filing date for annual assessment appeals will be moved from September 1 to August 1,” Kellerman said, explaining the change is intended to give the volunteer Board of Assessment Appeals more time to schedule hearings and reduce staff workload.
Kellerman said the board is required to give 20 days’ notice to appellants and that, under the old schedule, hearings that begin Sept. 1 had to be decided by Oct. 31, forcing the board to meet multiple times in a short window. He added that appeals must be physically in the assessor’s office on the deadline date—not merely postmarked—and that, starting in 2027, the board may lawfully apply penalties for late filings, typically holding a late appeal until the next calendar year.
The resolution also raises the residential filing fee from $25 to $35. Kellerman told commissioners the increase reflects actual mailing and staff costs for managing appeals, including first-class and certified mailings to appellants and attorneys.
Commissioners voiced unanimous support during discussion, noting the board of appeals is a voluntary body and the earlier filing date should ease scheduling. The board voted to adopt Resolution 2 of 2026 by voice vote.
The resolution also directs amendments to the appeals procedures, rules and regulations and adds a new section describing procedures for granting disabled‑veteran exemption status; the county solicitor David Gaines assisted in drafting that section.
Next steps: Notices of the deadline change will appear on county municipal tax bills mailed in March and will be announced during the county’s role-approval and tax-rule advertising processes. The August 1 deadline begins on 08/01/2026; the county will accept filings through Sept. 1 in 2026 only as a transition, and lawful penalties for late filings may be applied beginning in calendar year 2027.
