After losses and additions, Luzerne County’s tax base grew $26.8 million since January, for a new total of $20.197 billion.
The update comes from snapshot readings completed by the county assessor’s office in January for county and municipal tax bills and in June for school bills.
Forty-eight municipalities gained assessed value through new construction since January, while 25 lost ground due to assessment reductions and/or demolition.
The three remaining municipalities had no assessment change since January: Avoca, Forty Fort and Sugar Notch.
Hazle Township continued its upward climb, adding $10 million in assessed value.
The township moved into the top spot with the highest overall assessment last year, ending Wilkes-Barre’s historic reign at the head of the pack.
Hazle’s new growth brought its total assessed value to $1.49 billion. Municipal officials have credited continued expansion at the Humboldt Industrial Park off Interstate 81 and other development.
The Hazleton Area School District also has aggressively pursued reverse appeals seeking assessment increases for commercial and industrial properties it maintains are valued too low. The $10 million boost included an $8.1 million value hike for Romark Logistics in the Humboldt Industrial Park that was initiated through a reverse appeal, records show.
In comparison, Wilkes-Barre, which is the county seat, lost $1.85 million in assessed value since January.
The city’s new assessment total: $1.414 billion.
Two of the county’s three other cities — Nanticoke and Pittston — also lost assessed value during the first six months of the year, but not Hazleton.
Hazleton picked up $3.4 million in value since January, bringing the city’s tax base to $980.7 million.
City Mayor Jeff Cusat said investments in downtown revitalization and crackdowns on crime and building code violations have attracted investment. The city code enforcement office also is aggressively monitoring building permits to ensure additions and new construction are reported to the county assessor’s office, he said.
“This shows we’re making progress,” Cusat said of the assessment growth. “There’s a lot of opportunity to make money in Hazleton.”
Climbing the ladder
Meanwhile, Plains Township gained $6.1 million in assessment during the period, raising its tax base to $814.3 million, the comparison shows.
Among the other top assessment increases:
• Butler Township, $4.4 million for a new base of $823.5 million
• Dallas Township, $3.56 million for a new total of $699.9 million
• Rice Township, $2.35 million for a new base of $334.7 million
• Kingston, $1.7 million for a new total of $754.4 million
Wright Township had the highest overall assessment loss — $6.7 million — reducing its base to $593.3 million.
That change stems largely from a $7.2 million reduction for the Philips Lighting warehouse in the Crestwood Industrial Park in Wright Township. The property owner — Icon Owner Pool 4 Northeast/Midwest — had filed a court action contesting the county assessment appeal board’s decision to increase its value from $10 million to $22.7 million. The county and property owner settled on an assessment of $15.5 million, a court filing shows.
West Hazleton also experienced a significant assessment loss — $3 million — lowering its tax base to $218.38 million.
County Manager C. David Pedri has held up continued growth as a positive sign and evidence more view the county as a place they want to live and work.
The $26.8 million tax base increase equates to $160,116 in additional revenue for the county.
