Leadership

David S. Barr served as Chief Assessor in Centre County for nine years (1967 - 1976).  While in Centre County, he developed the first market-driven methodology for mass appraisal (reassessments) in Pennsylvania.  This methodology was first used when he reassessed Centre County in 1975.  Centre County ranked first in Pennsylvania for quality of assessments for many years as a result of this new method of model-building.  Prior to that time, the Cost Approach (replacement cost new, less depreciation) was the only methodology used in Pennsylvania to appraise real property for ad valorem tax purposes.  Mr. Barr was the first to use the Common-Level Ratio (CLR) concept for handling assessment appeals in Centre County.  Several years later, the state legislature enacted a law establishing the use of the CLR for assessment purposes.  During Mr. Barr’s tenure in Centre County, he developed the state’s first methodology for calculating “Clean and Green” use values, a methodology that is still used throughout Pennsylvania and is the basis of the state’s current calculation of Agricultural-Use Value. 

As a result of his success as Chief Assessor in Centre County, Mr. Barr was sought as a consultant to other counties and helped them resolve their assessment problems.  In 1976, he founded 21st Century Appraisals which focused on assessment consulting and reassessments in Pennsylvania.  In 1979, he was hired to reassess Washington County.  Since then, he has been involved with the reassessment of numerous Pennsylvania counties. 

Mr. Barr also developed the state’s first methodology for valuing minerals in Pennsylvania, a methodology that continues to be the standard used today.

Other accomplishments he made in technology and the reassessment process includes interactive informal reviews, property photographs, commercial valuation modeling, and comprehensive assessment management software.  Mr. Barr has also been an effective expert witness on numerous Court of Common Pleas cases.