Well,

The effect of the higher assessments has hit!

I got my Tax Demand for County of York and Stewartstown Borough
It went UP 225.95 over last year.  Close to a 16.5% increase in real dollars.  They both lowered Mills rate.
I wonder how fast the large surplus this is going to generate will be gone and then ask for rate increase?
Maryland Taxes are starting to look good!

The house is only six years old.  So, it was never seriously behind in assessed value!

Waiting to see all the for sale signs going up!

Just wait for the School Tax to Show Up!

Very Frustrating

Just out of curiousity, how much did your assessment increase (you can tell me a %)?

I did some analysis of assessment increases around the county with a heavy emphasis on our region. It seems that in Hopewell/East Hopewell/Stewartstown, the assessed values went up an average of 44%. Mine in EHT went up 62%. To be honest, it was low too… I had it appraised for a refinance and the appraised “market value” which is what the County used was $100K more than my assessment, 12 months after assessment.

All of the taxing authorities have to remain revenue neutral in an assessment year or no more than a 10% increase. This is why the rates went down. Next year they can go back up if they desire.

Sucks doesn’t it! Abolish residential property tax all the way around. There are too many holes and inconsistencies in the process to make it even partially fair.

Next years school tax millage rate will be about 17.35 or less. This is the max they can set it for. You can approximate your school tax for next year by doing the following:

Assessed value X .01735

If you have a $100,000 home, it would be $1735
If you have a $200,000 home, it would be $3470
If you have a $300,000 home, it would be $5205
If you have a $400,000 home, it would be $6940
If you have a $500,000 home, it would be $8675

I am glad I have lived here awhile and own a 25 yr old home. My new neighbors are spending $525,000 apiece for a new house, smaller than mine, in an open field. Sucks to be them.

Mine went up 59% on a 40 yr old home.  It did appraise shortly thereafter a bit above the assessed value, not 100K more (that would scare me).  Oh well, at least my taxes aren’t going up 59%.

For the 2006 tax year, the Stewartstown Borough tax rate did not increase. It was adjusted from 3.3 mills to 2.72 mills as a result of the property reassessments.  The only reason your home’s local municipal tax bill would increase is because your homes assessed value increased. If your homes value only increase at the same rates as the millage rate adjustment your bill would be the same dollar amount.
It is my understanding; however, that pretty much everyone in Southern York County saw an increase of 15% to 44% of their homes assessed value.

Looking at our budget numbers from 2005 and 2006, the borough is expecting to received a little more the $20,000 in Real Estate Taxes in 2006. This increase will come from increased assessments, homes that had renovations, additions completed in 2005 which added to the assessed value and a couple of additional homes.

The other part of the tax bill you received is the York County tax bill. It is my understanding that they adjusted their millage rate for the reassement and then did a small increase to bring in additional revenue to balance the budget.

Jeff Bruening
Councilman, Stewartstown Borough

Alex - 07 February 2006 03:34 PM

It seems that in Hopewell/East Hopewell/Stewartstown, the assessed values went up an average of 44%. Mine in EHT went up 62%. quote]

There must be something about the EHT homes.  Mine, which is almost 25 years old, went up 68+%, and that was after I met with the Assessment Board to clear up some discrepancies, which resulted in a reduction of a little more than $2,000.  Big deal, huh?

Our homes are not money-makers, unless we plan to sell them, which I don’t.  Otherwise, they’re an expense.  I won’t re-iterate what I, and everyone else on this forum, has already stated about something having to be done about the real estate/school taxes.  What I will say is keep writing our legislators and the governor since this issue is still pending.

It is important to note that your homes value and assessed value is the county’s way of putting a price on your home. Hopefully it is a fair amount compared to all of the other homes and properties around your area and similar to your home.  The reason EHT homes have appreciated is that everyone is building around the area. Felton, N.Hopewell, Stewartstown etc… Suddenly your farmland and property that was worth $20,000 an acre is worth $80,000 acre. Is it fair to the folks that have lived here for years and years. Nope. In many cases they will be taxed out of their homes, house rich, but cash poor. Granted you could sell your house, but where do you go, because it’s expensive to live everywhere now.

The other thought is that If everyone’s home doubled in value from $100,000 to $200,000 it really wouldn’t matter. The real issue is what is the tax rate as it technically would be 50% less, but the problem is that the tax rates keep going up and up and up, while our incomes and other revenue sources are not keeping up. Tax Rates have to be kept at the same rate as inflation.

The problem is happening everywhere and it’s not just a PA thing… It’s happening in Maryland too… Assessments are going up there as well. Right now it’s hitting Anne Arundel county which was reassassed last year so everyone is getting new rates..