PLUMSTED: Township orders property reassessment

By Peter Sclafani, Staff Writer
   PLUMSTED — The Township Committee on Aug. 1 approved an emergency appropriation of funds to conduct a property reassessment.
   The committee authorized up to $85,000, however, Mayor David Leutwyler said he hopes it will cost less than that.
   According to Municipal Clerk Dorothy J. Hendrickson, the township has hired Professional Property Appraisers Inc. to conduct the reassessment.
   By conducting the reassessment — as opposed to a full revaluation of property values — the committee hopes to receive fewer tax appeals from residents.
   Reassessing properties in the township will ensure each resident is paying their fair share to keep township schools, police and fire departments and municipal government running smoothly, officials said.
   A full reassessment would require the tax assessor to visit each property in the township and physically inspect the residents. The “hybrid” reassessment, on the other hand, does not have the same requirements although Mayor Leutwyler said he believes the majority of the homes in the township would be visited.
   According to Business Administrator Ronald Dancer, PPA will use data from existing property values as well as improvement records for each property to calculate its current value.
   According to Mayor Leutwyler, Plumsted Township Tax Assessor Maureen Francis will provide assistance to PPA.
   Ms. Hendrickson said the reassessment process will begin within the next few months, and as of now, the tax assessors plan to physically inspect each residence in the community.
   The reassessment will be the first tax adjustment in the township since 2007.