In today’s economy, Pennsylvania communities urge fiscal restraint and accountability. At the same time, they demand more and better quality services. Since the primary source of revenue for local governments is the real estate tax, it falls to public policy decision makers to build a constitutionally-acceptable taxing infrastructure that is both fair and equitable.
Fair Market and Assessed values within the real property tax base must be accurate, defendable, and understood by taxpayers. Since 1976, 21st Century Appraisals has helped county officials meet the challenges of the tax fairness issue.
21st Century Appraisals’ business mission is to provide mass appraisal, assessment, assessment-related technology, and public relations services to counties. Our objectives are to produce fair and quality assessments, incorporate Pennsylvania business rules and cutting-edge technology, and maintain excellent public relations and educational efforts.
21st Century Appraisals’ philosophical approach to mass appraisal is based on a market-driven system of valuation, balanced by the Income and/or Cost Approaches, where appropriate. County assessors are expected to defend values at appeal hearings using validated comparable sales; therefore, it is logical that the Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system software used to establish these values be based on a market-driven system. A market-driven system of valuation contributes to fairer real estate assessments. |