Boyer Candy reduces its taxes
By Kay Stephens, kstephens@altoonamirror.comArticle Photos
HOLLIDAYSBURG - Blair County and Boyer Candy have negotiated a new assessed value on the company's 17th Street property to one-third of its former rate.
The new amount cuts the company's tax bill and leaves the county, Altoona and the Altoona Area School District collectively with less annual tax revenue.
The county expects to lose $6,894 annually at current tax rates. The school district will lose about $11,000, and the city, with the loss affecting the property's improvements and not land, will lose $3,500 at current tax rates.
Commissioners, meeting Tuesday as the board of assessment and appeals, agreed to use $90,200 as the new assessment on Boyer Candy Co., reflecting a $1.1 million market value.
The old assessed value of $270,923 reflected a market value of $3.3 million, Chief Assessor Michael Baldner said.
"There's no way that building is worth $3.3 million," Baldner said.
Under Pennsylvania's real estate tax laws, property owners can appeal their assessment annually. Boyer did that last year on the basis that the county's assessment and the common level ratio generated a $3.3 million market value.
The common level ratio is set by the state and used in Blair County to equalize property values because the last reassessment was completed in 1958. Without further reassessments, the property's market value changed over the years but not its assessed value.
This is another example of why the county should reassess, Commissioner Donna Gority said after the meeting.
County Solicitor Nathan Karn said the county is not in a position to argue for a higher assessed value because Boyer Candy is considered industrial space, with limited use.
''Manufacturing and commercial businesses are built for specific purposes,'' Karn said. ''They're not like houses.''
If there was a high demand for industrial buildings in this area, Karn said, then the county would be in the position to argue for a higher assessed value.
If the county and Boyer Candy had not come to an agreement, the matter could have continued through the county court system for a resolution.
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RazMnaz
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07-28-08 10:56 PM
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Do they pay their taxes in Mallo Cup money?
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orlandobob
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07-23-08 6:24 PM
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Wow Boyers aint on stike?
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BudsBoy
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07-23-08 11:43 AM
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I concur. Bravo!
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Chuxspringer
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07-23-08 10:15 AM
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Anything to help a local business is great in my eyes.
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