LAWRENCE COUNTY Appeal reduces tax rolls by $10 million

Errors in assessments caused the power company to file its appeal.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County's real estate tax value is a little less this week.
County commissioners agreed to take $10 million off the tax rolls after an appeal by a power company that owns a plant in Taylor Township.
Orion Power Midwest LP, a subsidiary of Radiant Energy Corp. of Houston, appealed the $13,592,300 real estate assessment assigned by Sabre Systems of Miamisburg, Ohio, under countywide reassessment last year.
That assessment was lowered to $4.2 million after a court appeal.
Chief Assessor Mary Bullano said the change was made because Sabre's assessors used things in determining the assessment that should have been considered the owner's private property.
For example, furnaces used to generate electric power for the plant are considered private property but were counted in the original assessment as furnaces that generate heat for a building, which are used in assessments, she said.
Bullano noted that the county, school district and township were aware that a large drop was expected in Orion's assessment.
Microfilm contract
In other business, county commissioners awarded a contract to IMR of Harrisburg to microfilm court documents from 1984 to 2000. The work is expected to cost $38,800.
The project is being paid for out of fees collected when court papers are filed at the prothonotary and recorder of deeds and wills offices.
Commissioners also awarded an $18,250 contract to Golon Masonry Restoration Inc. of Pittsburgh to repair the war memorial at the corner of East Washington and Court streets.
Commissioner Brian Burick said the work should begin after Veterans Day. The concrete and granite memorial will be repaired, replaced cleaned and sealed.
cioffi@vindy.com