Reassessment Will Be Mixed Bag Throughout Lower Macungie Patch

The number of property owners in Lower Macungie Patch communities of Macungie, Lower Mac and Alburtis who see their taxes raised will be roughly the same as those who see their taxes fall 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 33.1 percent of Macungie properties, 66.3 percent of Lower Macungie properties and 31.9 percent of Alburtis properties will see taxes decrease.

However, 66.9 percent of Macungie properties, 33.7 percent of Lower Macungie properties and 68.1 percent of Alburtis properties will see taxes increase once the reassessment is complete in 2013.

Of those who will see their county taxes raised, most will increase by 10 percent or less. However, throughout Lower Macungie Patch, 93 homeowners will see their taxes increase by more than 50 percent.

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

ALBURTIS

• 168 will see an increase of 10 percent or less.
• 265 will see an increase between 10-20 percent.
• 101 will see an increase between 20-30 percent.
• 22 will see an increase between 30-40 percent.
• 7 will see an increase between 40-50 percent.
• 9 will seen an increase of 50 percent or more.

MACUNGIE

• 147 will see an increase of 10 percent or less.
• 220 will see an increase between 10-20 percent.
• 94 will see an increase between 20-30 percent.
• 79 will see an increase between 30-40 percent.
• 52 will see an increase between 40-50 percent.
• 48 will seen an increase of 50 percent or more.

LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP

• 2,030 will see an increase of 10 percent or less.
• 1,112 will see an increase between 10-20 percent.
• 578 will see an increase between 20-30 percent.
• 75 will see an increase between 30-40 percent.
• 27 will see an increase between 40-50 percent.
• 36 will seen an increase of 50 percent or more.

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 February 23.