CLEARFIELD – Yesterday, the Clearfield County Commissioners voted to file an appeal of the county’s Tax Appeals Board’s decision to reduce the tax assessments of the Wal-Mart Supercenters in Clearfield and DuBois.
About one month ago, the Tax Appeals Board reduced the market and assessed values of the Clearfield Wal-Mart. It also reduced the assessed value of the DuBois Wal-Mart, said Commissioner John A. Sobel, chair.
According to him, Wal-Mart representatives felt its real estate properties were assessed in excess. He said they presented a certified appraisal, giving the county’s Tax Appeals Board no choice but to reduce the tax assessment of the Clearfield and DuBois Wal-Marts, as there wasn’t any information to the contrary at the time.
The Clearfield Wal-Mart’s market value was reduced to $7 million from $9.6 million. Its assessed value was reduced to $1,022,000 from $1,670,400. The DuBois Wal-Mart’s assessed value was reduced to $1,429,340 from $2,310,425, said Sobel.
“We, the commissioners, feel the assessed values were correct,” he said. He said the county also voted to hire Attorney Peter Smith to handle the matter.
Sobel said the commissioners have been notified that Lawrence Township plans to appeal the Tax Appeals Board’s decision to reduce the tax assessment of the Clearfield Wal-Mart. He said the DuBois Area School District has already filed an appeal in relation to the reduction granted to the DuBois Wal-Mart.