CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County officials have filed a brief in support of its preliminary objections on a lawsuit leveled against the county by David W. Fox and a group of people regarding property taxes in Clearfield County.
County Solicitor announced that the brief had been filed on last Friday. The Clearfield County Commissioners and Clearfield County Board of Assessment Appeals faces a lawsuit filed by Fox and on behalf of a Committee of Concerned Citizens. The lawsuit it seeks “a declaration of the defendants’ unconstitutional assessment and taxation of real property … due to a lack of uniformity and fairness in taxation. This action also seeks to have (the court) compel the defendants to conduct a county-wide reassessment of all properties in Clearfield County for taxation purposes.”
The lawsuit claims that Fox’s property is being taxed at a higher percentage of the fair market value than other properties throughout the taxing area. The last time a county-wide assessment was conducted in Clearfield County was 1989.
The brief filed by Kesner is 27 pages, not including attachments. In it Kesner backs up the county’s objections against the lawsuit, asking that the complaint be dismissed. Kesner points out that Fox did not try to utilize the Board of Assessment Appeals to remedy his situation. Fox’s counsel has 20 days after the filing of the brief to file their own brief in response. The county then has an additional 20 days after the filing of that brief to file another brief in response.
Fox recently submitted a letter to the editor to GantDaily. To read it, click here. Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen submitted a letter to the editor on the subject as well, and can be read by clicking here.
A copy of the brief can be obtained at the Clearfield County Prothonotary/Clerk of Court’s office.
