The recent unseasonably nice weather has allowed the reassessment of Clarion County to proceed at a rapid pace.
Mike Russell from Massachusetts-based Vision Government Solutions told Clarion County commissioners Tuesday that the collection of data is continuing in Sligo, New Bethlehem, Shippenville and Knox.
“The weather has cooperated so far,” said Russell.
“We still have Redbank Township to do because there are a lot of farms there,” Russell said.
The assessors are easily identified as they are wearing green vests and will have a lanyard identifying them. They are also driving cars that identify them.
The assessors don’t enter anyone’s home.
Vision’s core staff is in place and includes a project manager, onsite manager, crew chief, office administrator, seven data collectors and a data entry clerk.
Russell said field assessors are needed, and anyone who wants to apply can call Russell at (717) 512-2436.
Russell said data entry has been temporarily suspended to focus on production and preparation for commercial data collection and market analysis that will begin this month.
The assessors use a laser system to measure the exterior of the houses. Permanent outside additions such as storage sheds or in-ground swimming pools will be assessed.
The physical assessment is the first step in attaining a new valuation of a property. Once the physical data has been collected, real estate market studies will be conducted to develop formulas for estimating the fair market value.
Property owners will receive a preliminary notice of the new assessed value and may appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals.
Commissioner Ted Tharan has said about one third of property owners will see a decrease in their taxes, one third will stay the same and one-third will see a tax increase.
Tharan said on average the tax base will increase which could result in a reduction of property taxes by as much as two percent. The final valuation will be based on the property values in 2024.
There is an anti-windfall provision that prohibits the taxing body from excessive gains.
Tharan said the re-assessment is necessary to “create an equitable distribution of the tax load.”
There hasn’t been a physical reassessment of the county since 1975, and the total cost of the process is $1.7 million.
Russell said 42 percent of the county’s 18,808 parcels have been measured. None of the commercial properties have been assessed, and the first commercial assessment will be in Clarion Borough.