TRR photo by Tom Kane Chief Assessor John Nolan is leading Wayne County’s reassessment effort. (Click for larger image)

Wayne County revaluation completing first phase

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA — Wayne County is currently finishing the first stage of a complete reassessment, or “reval,” of every property in the county.

The last assessment was done in 1972.

The process, which was begun this year, will be completed in 2004, according to John Nolan Wayne County Chief Assessor.

Assessments for similar properties vary greatly because the last assessment was done so long ago and the market has changed.

“It’s important to have equity and fairness in our assessments and our taxes,” said Wayne County Commissioner Mark Graziadio.

Equity is the sole reason the reval is being held, not to raise taxes, he said.

The county is saving $2 million to $2.5 million by doing the reassessment in-house using county staff, he said.

Nolan has a cadre of six staff, who are reviewing the county’s 66,000 properties, checking the accuracy of the records and gathering additional information. His staff is rounded out by three inside staff including himself, two consultants and a computer programmer.

“What we’re doing is just what an independent appraiser does,” Nolan said.

The county has 66,000 properties that must be reassessed.

Nolan said that taxes in the county would not rise as a result of the new assessment.

“One-third of the properties will increase in assessment, one-third will remain the same and one-third will decrease,” he said. “That’s been the formula throughout the state and it’s been our experience in the past.”

Nolan said that those in the third whose assessment increased will pay more taxes eventually and that those in the third whose assessment decreased will pay less taxes eventually.

One county resident, Karl Jennings of Lake Ariel, was skeptical.

“Taxes for everyone will go up for sure,” Jennings said. “Why do all this work and not get money out of it?”

A number of others don’t agree with Jennings.

“It’s not automatic that taxes will go up,” said Honesdale resident Albert Rutherford. “Certainly I think properties that haven’t been sold for 20 years will see an increase in taxes. I think this reassessment is to correct imbalances and that’s good for the whole county.”

“It’s a good thing to hold this reassessment,” said Maria Weinberger of Texas Township. “It’s only fair. Older homes haven’t seen a tax increase if they haven’t been assessed for 30 years.”

Nolan said that the last step will be to give residents a chance to appeal the decision of the reassessment.

“They’ll have 40 days to appeal in 2004 before the assessment goes into effect,” he said.