Two Allentown real estate firms received hearings before the Schuylkill County Assessment Appeals Board at the courthouse in Pottsville on appeals filed to reduce assessments on properties they purchased in Schuylkill County.

The board handed down its decisions as follows:Apartments and Acquisitions, L.P., 1102 Fullerton Avenue, Allentown, on properties it purchased from the county tax claim bureau at a judicial sale: 221 Washington St., Tamaqua, market value of $30,810 and assessed at $15,405; 216 Pitt St., Tamaqua, market value $27,470 and assessed at $13,735; 76 Macomb St., New Philadelphia, market value $28,740 and assessed a $14,370; property at 35 Preston Avenue, Girardville, market value $15,070 and assessed at $7,535; 107 Fourth St., Tower City, market value $22,090 and assessed at $11,045; 803 W. Race St., Pottsville, market value at $25,060 and assessed at $12,530; and property at 133 S. Wylam St., West Mahanoy Township, market value at $36,620 and assessed at $18,310. The board ruled no changes for 2013 taxes.Jamilie, LCC, 1102 Fullerton Aven, Avenue, Allentown, received ruling on its following properties:Property at 1114 Brock St., Ashland, market value reduced from $22,300 to $9,318 and assessment from $11,150 to $4,600, a decrease of $6,490 in assessment for 2013 taxes because the building needs a new roof and other fixings before rented out; property at 31 S. Lehigh Avenue, Frackville, market value reduced from $51,910 to $13,044 and assessment from $25,955 to $6,520, a decrease of $19,428 in assessment because the property needs renovation before renting; property at 26 N. Lehigh Avenue, Frackville, market value of $63,620 and assessed at $31,810, the board ruled no change; and the property at 94 Coal St., Port Carbon, market value of $25,610 reduced to $7,452 and assessment from $12,805 to $3,725, a decrease of $9,080 in assessment because the property needs a new roof and renovations.Kenneth K. Perpignan, of 91 Sherwood Forest Road, Lehighton, received a reduction on his property at 170 First St., Coaldale, which he had purchased at a tax claim sale and needs renovations. The board reduced the market value from $21,600 to $5,596 and assessment from $10,800 to $2,800, a decrease in assessment of $8,000 for 2013 taxes.The Most Reverend Stefan Soroka, pastor of Saint Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, on a property at 243 S. Middle St., Frackville, which is used as resident's for the pastor, an exemption from tax payments was granted. The property on the assessment books had a market value of $83,000 and was assessed at $41,500. An appeal on a property at 23 S. Second St., which is planned to be razed for parking space for the church, the board ruled no change for 2013 and retained its market value at $75,582 and assessment at $37,790.