It’s a controversial topic in the county and residents of Tyrone have a lot of questions.
The borough’s Mayor, William Fink, sent a letter to the Blair County Commissioners Office, detailing how the new values are impacting his community and why property owners are frustrated.
“I do not want to go out there and make them pay the fiddler for something they shouldn’t have to pay for,” Mayor Fink said.
Residents in Tyrone believe some factors in their borough weren’t taken into consideration.
Senior citizens are a large part of the Tyrone’s population and Mayor Fink said they’re getting the short end of the stick.
“You know when you’re sitting in a fixed income through social security…It’s tough, when you’re trying to juggle the medications, you’re trying to juggle your insurances, you try to juggle, your taxes, you gotta buy food. It’s pathetic! And those things have to be looked at,” Mayor Fink said.
And limited resources could add to the financial stress.
Borough Manager, Phyllis Garhart, said with so many residents in the older demographic, “we have a lot that do not have computers, unless someone will assist them. They’re the one’s who are going to suffer.”
Mayor Fink added that there are some property details, like being located in a flood plain, specifically effect Tyrone residents and can decrease real values.
Fink said it’s important that people in the community do what’s necessary to make their voices heard.
In response to the borough’s concerns, Certified Pennsylvania Evaluator, Tim Barr, said there are a lot of misunderstandings in regards to the reassessment.
Barr said it was critical to acknowledge flood plains in the evaluations and they were taken into consideration.
Property owners who have any questions or concerns are urged to call and schedule an informal review or file a formal appeal, Barr said.
There will also be a public meeting at the Blair County Convention Center, next Tuesday at 6 p.m..
For more information about the reassessment click here.
