Pocono News Section

Luzerne County Reassesment Update

Luzerne County Reassesment Update - Friday, March 13, 2009 at 8:40PM EST

Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County -
This is the lawsuit filed today against Luzerne County . It calls into question the basic fairness of the ongoing reassessment process. Vic Kopko of Hanover Township filed the lawsuit. He insists that the process does not give property owners a fair shake. He says, "I've heard from hundreds of Luzerne County taxpayers who are upset with how process has gone Their voices have not been heard. They are helping and assisting the Luzerne County Taxpayers Rights Association. Our ultimate goal is to get this corrected if not stopped."

This is the first reassessment in Luzerne County since 1965 and it has not come without problems or controversy. Many others feel as Kopko does. He believes case law is on his side. Vic adds, "The uniformity clause of the Pennsylvania constitution has clearly been violated. You cannot have arbitrary decisions being made when people are not getting their certified appraisals results with going and spending all kinds of money and not being heard."

Luzerne County commission chairperson Mary Ann Petrilla says county lawyers are reviewing the lawsuit and is confident they can win. She insists that the law has been followed and that taxpayers can appeal their reassessments and get a fair deal.