Revaluation of Lycoming County properties is currently underway – here’s what’s happening | News, Sports, Jobs

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Reporter Lycoming County Commissioners moved to 33 West Third Street in Williamsport, as shown Thursday, July 11, 2024.

The property reassessment approved by Lycoming County commissioners is underway in some area municipalities, with employees from Tyler Technologies Inc., hired for about $3.5 million to do the work, starting the second phase of the process: data collection.

This phase of the reevaluation will last through March 2026, according to Steve Wise, Tyler’s senior project officer. This is followed by the data analysis and review phase, which will begin in 2025 and last until summer 2027.

Once the preliminary notice is mailed, property owners will have the opportunity to file an informal objection that will be handled by Tyler. The new assessments will be effective for the 2028 tax year.

Starting next month, the group will hold eight to 10 informational presentations throughout the area, where residents will have the opportunity to have any questions and concerns answered about the reassessment process. The first presentation will be on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m., at Jersey Shore Area Middle School, 601 Thompson St., Jersey Shore.

There are over 54,000 parcels in total in the district, including commercial zoned, residential zoned, exempt, industrial and all lands. Period “developed” It refers to a property with a structure on it.

“There isn’t a parcel in the county that we won’t look at and touch during that three-year period.” said the wise.

What this means for property owners in the area is that at some point they will be visited by a Tyler employee, who will be properly identified by both a yellow vest with the Tyler name on it and a photo identification card issued by Lycoming County.

Data collectors were recruited and trained in the field within the district.

“We also make a list of all data collectors in the field. There are vehicle identification numbers, year, make and model.” said the wise.

Tyler’s website will also feature images of data collectors showing who is in the field and what type of vehicles they drive. In addition, any municipality is notified approximately one to two weeks before starting work in that area.

The county’s Chief Assessor, Brooke Wright, said area police departments and State Police have been notified that data collectors are working in the county.

“We also have a point of contact for them at the 911 Emergency Center and the Sheriff’s Office.” Wright said.

There are currently three people on site, with plans to hire four full-time and up to four part-time employees. There are also various office staff who do data entry after field work is completed. ‘

“Once the data is collected, they will enter all the changes and everything into the county’s assessment system.” said the wise.

When the data collector arrives at a property, if the owner is at home, he or she will be asked a series of questions about the home’s interior.

Questions asked of residential property owners include: the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and total rooms in the home; what type of heating system and fuel is used; Does it have central air conditioning; at what level does the basement finish; have there been any recent renovations; and is there anything else you want them to know about the property?

During the data collection phase, exterior measurements and an updated photo of the façade of each property will be taken. Photos are date stamped to indicate when the package was inspected.

“These have several purposes. The first of these is the documentation aspect; is to show that we have visited every property. The other one also helps us in the review process. Having a good photo on file helps with the accuracy of the investigation,” said the wise.

Even beyond the appraisal, photos are provided to local law enforcement and other departments in the county so they can verify the properties, according to Mary Noldy, regional manager of appraisal services for Tyler Technologies.

The average time for the process is around five to seven minutes in an urban area where buildings are closer together, and longer in rural areas where there may be larger properties and more buildings. Wise emphasized that those collecting data do not enter buildings.

If the owner is not home, the data collector leaves a hanger with questions to be answered at the door and then mails it back to the address on the back of the mailer. They also give everyone a brochure with frequently asked questions.

“The door hanger tells them when we are there, which gives them the opportunity to verify information they have about their home with us.” said the wise.

He noted that they have received a good response from the door hangers in the Watson and Porter County areas where data collectors are currently working.

“We will take that information, compare it to the information we have, and then make adjustments based on any changes.

“If the listing has someone with four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and it’s three bedrooms, two bathrooms, or maybe we have a finished basement and the basement isn’t finished yet.” he said.

In rare cases, if a property owner has notified the county that they want to be there when the inspection occurs, an appointment may be arranged, he said.

Once the data is collected, it is compiled into a data mail. Each is based on information currently on file and recorded at the property. These are being sent to every property owner with a home, likely from late next month, for properties in areas where data collectors are currently working.

“The property owner should take the opportunity to review the data we have selected and note any discrepancies and seek to have them corrected.” said the wise.

“We want property owners to be involved in the process. We want property owners to be involved in the reassessment process. There are specific ways to do that. And one of the most important things is to look for it in the mail, fill it out if you have it, and send it. This is to ensure accuracy and our quality assessment. Correcting any of the information If necessary, it should be signed and returned to the assessor’s office.” he added.

Wise explained that many different statistical characteristics go into determining a property’s overall valuation, such as total square footage, condition, location, number of floors and any improvements.

Income and expense research is conducted for income-generating properties. These will be mailed in late May 2026

“Any property that we would consider an income-producing property is going to get one of these. This is an income-expense survey. We will request three years of relevant income and expense data. The surveys will have instructions on how to fill them out. Any information we collect is strictly confidential. “We are required by law, we have a record keeping rule that we have to keep everything confidential.” he said.

“Once again, it gives commercial property owners the opportunity to complete the survey and respond to the best of their ability or knowledge.” he said.

He reiterated the importance of accurate and completed survey information, as well as the compilation of commercial market reports, as a source of information used in determining the final commercial assessment.

The information required for commercial properties includes information such as how many total units they have, what the unit configuration and distribution is, how many one bedrooms, two bedrooms, three bedrooms they have, and any amenities they will provide. Wise explained to tenants laundry service, fitness area, occupancy percentage, what the current rents are, rental rates and operating expenses.

Once all the data is collected, comes the analytical phase, which Tyler calls final review and evaluation.

“Tyler’s appraiser will use collective data to calibrate computerized models specific to the Lycoming market. We identify market areas within the jurisdiction. We develop models for different property characteristics. We use the models to select comparable sales prices for the property in question… and appropriate for each subject We choose comparable sales.” said the wise.

Tyler lists three accepted approaches or methods for achieving value. The cost approach proves an estimate of value based on the replacement cost of improvements, less depreciation plus land value.

The income approach estimates value by utilizing a property’s net operating income, while the market or sales approach estimates value by comparing sales of similar properties to the appraised property.

A sales effort will also be carried out for the properties sold in the district from the beginning of this year until 2027, which is the project period. This analysis will be one of the main tools used in determining fair market valued values. Tyler Technologies.

Although his company is often accused of increasing the value of a property, Wise emphasized that it is the market that determines value.

“We interpret the market. “The market takes us to value.” he said.

When property owners receive notice of the new provisional assessed value beginning in Spring 2027, they are encouraged to evaluate whether the assessment is at market value. If they accept that the appraisal value is at market value, there is no need to take any further action.

“You want to ask yourself: Can I sell my property for the new interim value? If yes, your new provisional value reflects the market value of your property. “That’s the goal.” said the wise.

“I think most property owners will have a rough idea of ​​what their property is worth,” he said.

But he encouraged anyone who thinks anything is inconsistent to submit an objection.

“The informal hearing process gives the property owner an opportunity to be heard.” said the wise.

“It gives us the opportunity to look at it with you and make the right decision. And that’s the biggest thing we’ve done with this here. “We just want to fix this.” he said.

Notices sent to property owners will include instructions on how to informally review the value with an employee in Tyler.

The purpose of the informal review is to open a discussion to resolve issues and concerns and to review the accuracy of property data, gather new information, and correct existing data if necessary.

“It allows the property owner to have a one-on-one conversation with the people doing the work, which is us… I always tell people who know the property better than the owner.” he said.

Wise encourages people seeking informal reviews to provide data specifically on sales of similar properties in the area.

“We love data…we will take into consideration any information you bring.” he said.

Ultimately, if a property owner feels their concerns were not met at the informal hearing, they can file a formal appeal with the revision board.

More information and a detailed timeline for reevaluation are available at www.tylertech.com/lycoming.

While we conduct the reassessment, Tyler Technologies will operate from an office on the sixth floor of Third Street Plaza. Office of Reconsideration, c/o Tyler Technologies, 48 ​​W. Third St., Williamsport, PA 17701; By e-mail to [email protected]; or by phone at 570-567-8221. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.