Schuylkill County Commissioner Larry Padora said last week that when it comes time later this year to certify the completed property tax reassessment, he’s voting against it.
“I’m voting No,” the Commissioners Chairman said Wednesday during the board’s weekly meeting at Schuylkill County Courthouse.
His response was prompted by a question on where each of the Commissioners stood on certifying the reassessment, asked by former Commissioners candidate Jeff Dunkel during Public Comment.
Certifying the property tax reassessment only requires a majority vote so even if Padora votes No, it could still pass by votes from his fellow Commissioners Gary Hess and Boots Hetherington.
On Wednesday, Hess didn’t say how he’d vote on certification but did say that the County has already spent the money to execute the reassessment and spent three years fighting against it in court prevent it.
Hess said he’ll see how things are when the assessment is completed. “We already spent all this money. We also spent three years fighting it.”
Hetherington didn’t indicate how he’s planning to vote. But he and Hess, as Commissioners in the past did vote in favor of commencing with the reassessment. They voted in favor of conducting the reassessment, they’ve said in the past, because it was part of a court-ordered settlement in a 2018 lawsuit filed against Schuylkill County by Community Justice Project, a non-profit organization.
That settlement was agreed to in May 2022. The lawsuit alleged that Schuylkill County’s current property tax assessment was unfair and illegal.
Padora said Wednesday, “I definitely would have fought it more.”
The Chairman also questioned the motives of Community Justice Project and wondered why it sued Schuylkill County and is part of similar efforts in other counties.
“I want to know about this non-profit out of Philadelphia that is going around and suing counties throughout Pennsylvania. it’s the same non profit that sued Tioga, sued Schuylkill … I think they entered into an agreement with Clarion. I heard they’re circling Carbon County now. Northumberland county is talking that they’re going to settle now,” Padora said. “It’s the same non-profit. I’m trying to find out, who are the donors to this non profit. It seems very coincidental that it’s the same non profit suing every single county to either enter into an agreement with them or they take it to court and honestly, they win every court battle because of Pennsylvania’s law of common level ratios.
“We haven’t done a reassessment in 30 years,” he continued “Where were they 10 years ago? Why didn’t they sue us 10 years ago? Why didn’t they sue us 15 years ago?”
Padora then pointed a finger at state government.
“The state needs to fix this problem. It is not fair to counties. It’s not fair that they don’t let you do a rolling in (one third of a county each year). Every time I’m with our state legislators, I bring this up. This needs to be fixed,” Padora said.
The reassessment process is scheduled to conclude this year and new tax rates will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026. A majority of the Commissioners must vote to certify the reassessment before that happens. The County expects to hear numerous appeals from property owners between now and then who disagree with their new tax assessment.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...