LAWRENCE COUNTY Reassessment worries officials

The company doing the reassessment said the information is available in their Miamisburg offices.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners said they are concerned that work done on countywide reassessment isn't getting into the hands of a consultant hired to oversee it.
Commissioners Roger DeCarbo and Ed Fosnaught said Tuesday that Manatron Sabre Systems of Miamisburg, Ohio, hasn't handed over information to Real Estate Tax Consultants of Pittsburgh, a company hired by the county to check on Sabre's progress.
"Are they purposely delaying giving the information to the consultant or is it because it's not all together yet?" DeCarbo said.
Legal help: DeCarbo said he wants an attorney to look over the county's contract with Manatron Sabre to see if the company can be forced to hand over the information.
Fosnaught said the county wants its consultant to look over the work now to avoid any problems in the future. He referenced work done by Manatron Sabre in Allegheny County, where property valuations have been questioned for being too high or too low.
"We have to be comfortable that problems occurring in Allegheny County don't happen here. I'm not saying anybody is doing a bad job, but I'm concerned that we're not getting enough information to Real Estate Tax Consultants," Fosnaught said.
Commissioner Brian Burick was not present at Tuesday's meeting.
Daniel Muthard, president of Manatron Sabre Systems, said his company is trying to cooperate but wants to meet with Real Estate Tax Consultants to clarify what the company wants to view.
"Some of the data files they requested, we can't provide. They are tax administration files and they would have to come from the county. I can't provide what I don't have," he said.
Muthard said other information requested by Real Estate Tax Consultants is available, but the Pittsburgh consulting firm would have to travel to Manatron Sabre's Miamisburg office for it.
"That's ridiculous," Fosnaught said. He said that the work is being done in Lawrence County and should be available in Lawrence County.
Fosnaught said he's also concerned about a visit James Herbstreit of Manatron Sabre made to New Castle City Council in October. City council members asked for an update on reassessment from Manatron Sabre after a county newsletter indicated that the company had requested more time to finish reassessment.
City officials forced the county to start reassessment in 1998 when council threatened to file a lawsuit. City and county officials eventually worked out an agreement, and Judge Ralph D. Pratt of common pleas court ordered the county to start reassessment. Under that agreement, reassessment must be done by Jan. 1, 2003.
In October, Herbstreit told council that no extension has been requested and that initial valuations should be sent to the county by January.
Muthard said Tuesday that the company still expects to have that information to the county sometime in January.
However, Fosnaught said Herbstreit asked county officials for an extension before talking to city council.
"He came in and said they may ask for more time because they wanted the smoke to clear from the project in Allegheny County. He said he would like to have more time," Fosnaught said.
Fosnaught said commissioners rejected the request.
Herbstreit could not be reached for comment.
Fosnaught questioned why Herbstreit even addressed council.
"I would like Mr. Herbstreit to explain why he felt that he should show up at the New Castle City Council and update them without first getting approval to do so from the commissioners. Mr. Herbstreit needs to take his check and turn it sideways and look at the three names on there and remember where the money is coming from," Fosnaught said.
However, that 1998 court order gives city officials the authority to request updates from the company doing reassessment at any time.