The deadline for scheduling an informal review of data collected for reassessment is today.

Tim Barr, of Vision Government Services, the firm doing the reassessment for the county, told the commissioners Wednesday the deadline for scheduling the informal residential reviews is today at 4:30 p.m.

That can be accomplished by logging onto www.vgsi.com/schuylkill.

“We are leaving the website open over the weekend, until 9 p.m. Sunday,” Barr said. “We are cutting off scheduling at the end of the month.”

Commercial reviews have a longer deadline, Monday, June 9 at 4:30 p.m. Commercial reviews include a four-page questionnaire, Barr said.

“These reviews have gone better than we anticipated,” Barr said, “We think that is because we are telling them of the tax impact. We are using 2024 school district millage, because that’s what we have now.”

The informal reviews are meant to review the data collected, not the new tax rate. That will happen with formal reviews that will happen after they are calculated.

The new assessments will be mailed out. Once county residents receive them, then it’s time for the second round of reviews.

“Starting July 1, taxpayers will have 40 days to file a form with the assessment office to schedule the formal appeals, which will be held at the former STS building in Saint Clair,” Barr said. “Anyone will be able to look at the new valuations on the county map (on the Internet) with the CAMA card. The old and new values will be listed.”

The appeal of the new tax will go before a three-person board, who will decide. If the resident is unhappy with the decision, they can appeal to Schuylkill County Court.

Barr added that a lawyer is not necessary for the formal appeal, but one will be needed for the court appeal, Barr said.

The county is looking for people to serve on these three-person boards. They will be paid $20 per hour, but will have to pay $40 for classes from the state. A background in construction or real estate would be helpful, but is not necessary.

Barr said the commissioners have opted for a $20,000 exclusion from school district taxes. That means if your property was valued at $40,000, you would be assessed on only $20,000.