Reassessment to Lower Taxes for Most in South Whitehall

More property owners in South Whitehall will see their county taxes fall, rather than rise, with the coming Lehigh County property reassessment, according to a municipality-by-municipality breakdown reported by The Express Times.

The analysis provided by county officials shows that 68.1 percent of South Whitehall properties will see taxes decrease, while 31.9 percent will see taxes increase once the reassessment is complete in 2013.

According to the analysis, the increase will affect homeowners as follows:

* 1,417 homeowners will see an increase of 10 percent or less

* 527 homeowners, an increase of 10 to 20 percent

* 195 homeowners, an increase of 20 to 30 percent

* 57 homeowers, an increase of  30 to 40 percent

* 26 homeowners, an increase of 40 to 50 percent

* 36 homeowners, an increase of more than 50 percent.

The impact will be revenue-neutral for the county, as any properties that see their values increased will be balanced by those that see their taxable values drop.

Allentown will see the largest number of tax decreases with nearly three-quarters of its property values dropping. The largest number of tax increases will be in Coopersburg and the northwestern part of the county.

Earlier this month, County Commissioners voted 8-1 to override a veto by County Executive Don Cunningham to stop the reassessment from taking place. Cunningham said he thought the real estate market was too volatile for the process.

Preliminary notices on new property values are expected to be mailed on Thursday, Feb. 23.