W-b Mayor Banking On Good Citizens/ Bank With Local Branches Provides $27
Million In Below-market Loans To Help Revitalize Neighborhoods.

Colonels Get Into Ncaa Tournament

By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@leader.net
 Tuesday, November 15, 2005 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 12A 





County assessors placed a whopping $299 million worth of property value -
primarily from new construction - on Luzerne County tax rolls this year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In tax language, that equates to $19.4 million in assessed value and $1.8
million in new county tax revenue. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By comparison, the $13 million increase in assessed value in 2004 was
heralded as the largest jump in recent memory. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "That's pretty darn good. I am really, really thrilled," said county
Assessor's Office Operations Director Tony Alu. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Alu credits the staff and a more aggressive team structure for the results.
Guided by building permits and other information, workers swept through the
county on the hunt for new construction. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We were focused on where the biggest dollars were. It's not that we're not
concerned about the rest, but we're trying to utilize staff to bring in the
maximum amount of productivity. The proof is in the pudding," Alu said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Much of the new residential construction was in the Mountain Top area and
Conyngham-Butler Valley. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Alu said he factored tax-exempt properties out of his calculation so that
much of the $1.8 million is money that will be realistically paid to the
county. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Commercial growth was heavy around the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre
Township. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 However, Wilkes-Barre Area School District Business Manager Ralph Scoda
doesn't expect to reap much from this growth because the tax dollars generated
by many of those stores and restaurants are steered into the bonds that funded
roads and other infrastructure necessary to develop what had been mine-spoiled
land. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Scoda isn't hoping for a gain - he's hoping that the tax base doesn't
decline. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Between schools, colleges, hospitals, and government property, at least 55
percent of Wilkes-Barre City's property base is tax-exempt, Scoda said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 County minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban said during Monday's
reassessment update meeting that he wants to plug information on tax
abatements into the new computerized mapping system so people can track, by
municipality, how much money is forgiven through programs such as the Keystone
Opportunity Zone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Urban said at least $1 million in county tax revenue was forgiven in 2005
through such programs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Luzerne County officials have sent letters to all county school districts
asking them to provide temporary space to conduct informal assessment reviews
this year. So far, Greater Nanticoke Area School District is the only one that
has offered a firm commitment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * A recent fire at the office of reassessment company 21st Century
Appraisals Inc. has slowed work but won't delay the company from meeting its
target to implement the new reassessment values in 2007. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 * Reassessment officials expect anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 applications
next year from county property owners who want to participate in the
Clean-and-Green program. The program offers reduced tax values for landowners
who want to keep tracts 10 acres or more for agricultural use or forest
conservation. Farmers couldn't make a living from land if they had to pay
taxes on the real market value of their property. However, a certain amount of
money saved through the tax break might have to be repaid if property owners
decide to sell it for development. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

$19.4m In Assessed Value Found/ County Assessors Find $299 Million Worth Of Property To Put On The Tax Rolls