Published: Tuesday, Feb. 02, 2010 / Updated: Tuesday, Feb. 02, 2010 11:22 AM
York County puts off tax reassessment
The York County Council tentatively decided Monday night to wait a year before assessing higher or lower tax values on the properties of 110,000 homeowners.
Councilmen were torn on the issue last month when the idea was presented at a county budget retreat.
On Monday, chairman Buddy Motz and councilman Tom Smith said they were swayed by hope the economy would rebound, making reassessment easier for the majority of homeowners whose taxes likely will go up. If council members approve the delay two more times, the county's reassessment would be effective in 2011.
County Manager Jim Baker had warned members that it would be a tough decision.
Reassessment will raise values on 80 percent of homes, Baker said. Of those homes, about 45 percent are expected to increase more than 15 percent in value.
That doesn't necessarily mean higher taxes, because tax rates from the county, cities and school districts would be cut to level the field, Baker said. But the York County tax assessor's office has said tax bills would increase on six out of 10 parcels. Whether the assessment happens now or later, the county will use the same numbers.
While some property owners could wind up paying more in taxes, some could pay less.
The bottom line, Baker said: Going ahead with reassessment this year would offer relief to around 20 percent of York County homeowners and would raise property values for the other 80 percent.
Lakefront properties in neighborhoods near good schools typically are hit the hardest by reassessment because the value of those homes generally increase more.
Property values on mobile homes and houses near industrial plants and landfills will mostly be lowered by a reassessment, likely resulting in lower taxes for property owners in following years.
Reassessment is an appraisal of each property in the county, designed to capture what the market value would be if someone wanted to sell that home, Baker said.
Foreclosure sales don't count.
State law requires the county to reassess properties every five years, but it also allows the council to delay the process one year in the taxpayers' interest. State law prohibits the county from bringing in more tax money through reassessment. If the county council goes ahead with reassessment this year, property owners would receive a notice in May indicating the new tax values of their homes. Residents would have 90 days to appeal the county's assessment.
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