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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-1805ERIC J. DETWEILER & KRISTEN E. DETWEILER, Petitioners VS. CUMBERLAND COUNTY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, UPPER MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP, and BIG SPRING SCHOOL DISTRICT : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF I CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL ACTION -LAW NO. OF 2012 M MM x? ?A ?- o b c-, N -v s- cr 'r'r= 'UM PETITION FOR APPEAL FROM THE DECISION OF THE , CUMBERLAND COUNTY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS Eric J. Detweiler and Kristen E. Detweiler, by and through their attorney, Sally J. Winder, file this Petition for Appeal from the Assessment of the Board of Assessment Appeals for Cumberland County, and in support thereof avers as follows: 1. Eric J. Detweiler and Kristen E. Detweiler, husband and wife, ("Petitioners") are sui juris adult individuals with a mailing address of 400 Meadows Road, Newville, Pennsylvania 17241. 2. Petitioners are the owners of a parcel of real estate together with all improvements, identified as "Premises" and being specifically identified as follows: Parcel No. 15-04-0393-048 Mountain Road approx. 2.03 acres 3. Respondent, Board of Assessment Appeals of Cumberland County (`Board") is a board for assessment and revision of real assessment taxes within the general assessment law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 4. The Premises are entirely located within the boundaries of Cumberland County, Upper Mifflin Township, and the Big Spring School District. A true and correct copy of the Petition will be served upon the municipalities and school district forthwith. 5. For purposes of the 2011 tax year, the County assessed the Premises as follows; Land $65,300 Improvements $123,300 Total $188,600 6. Petitioners filed an appeal from the above-stated assessment with the Board of Assessment Appeals. (4? X16 ? - r/S ?Cj- &S ? 7. On February 23, 2012, after a hearing, the Board issued a decision making a partial reduction in the tax assessments for the Premises from its original total of $188,600 to $140,000. This was a reduction of 25.8 percent. 8.. Petitioners aver that the decision is improper, unsatisfactory, and unlawful for one or more of the following reasons: a. The assessment on Petitioners' property is substantially higher than assessments of comparable properties in the taxing district. b.The assessments are based upon an erroneous determination of the fair market value, particularly as it concerns Petitioners' property.. c. The value determination by the Board violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14`h Amendment to the United States Constitution. d. The impact of the assessment under appeal bears unequally on the Petitioners when compared to assessment of properties of the same class. e. When related to assessments of similarly situated property owners, the assessment of the Premises is arbitrary and capricious. f. The assessment violates the Uniformity Clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution. g. The assessment violates the required equality of the treatment guaranteed by Pennsylvania Statutory and Constitutional Law. h. The assessment is based in whole or in part upon appraisals and comparable sales that do not represent the actual fair market value of the property i. The ratio of assessed value to actual fair market value applied in making the assessment is in excess of the ratio applied throughout the taxing district. j. The assessment as determined by the Board does not reflect the current fair market value of the property as determined by the arms length transaction whereby Petitioners acquired the Premises on July 22, 2011, for a sales price of $75,000.00 k. The assessment lacks uniformity. 1. The assessment is discriminatory. m. The assessment is otherwise unjust and inequitable 9. The fair market value of the Premises is $75,000.00. 2 WHEREFORE, Petitioners request this Honorable Court to reverse the decisions of the Cumberland County Board of Assessment Appeals, reduce the assessment on the Premises to its fair market value and thereafter make all necessary orders and decrees to effectuate said Decision. Respectfully submitted, Sally J. inder, Attorney for Petitioners, Eric J. D eiler & Kristen E. Detweiler PO Box 341 Newville, PA 17241 (717) 776-6656 VERIFICATION I, Eric J. Detweiler, verify that I am a property owner and Petitioner herein, that the facts set forth in the foregoing Petition are true and correct, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief. I understand that false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S.A. section 4904 relating to unworn verification to authorities. Dated: March 20, 2012 e.,. Eric J. Detweiler 3 John G. French, Esquire Attorney for Cumberland County Board of Assessment Appeals 1 Courthouse Square, Room 107 Carlisle, PA 17013 Attorney I.D. No. 90788 Tel.: 717-759-5297 ERIC J. DETWEILER & KRISTEN E. DETWEILER Petitioners vs. CUMBERLAND COUNTY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS, UPPER MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP AND BIG SPRING SCHOOL DISTRICT, Respondents MUNICIPALITY: UPPER MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP Parcel No. 15-04-0393-048 : IN THE COURT OF COMMON : PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND : COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA NO. 12-1805 CIVIL TERM REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENT APPEAL PRAECIPE FOR ENTRY OF APPEARANCE PURSUANT TO PA. R.CIV.P. 1012(b) Please enter my appearance on behalf of the Appellee Cumberland County Board of Assessment Appeals, in the above captioned matter. Dated: 04//4 817569.1 Respectfully submitted, By Jo. French, Esquire Solicitor for Cumberland County Board of Assessment Appeals 1 Courthouse Square, Room 107 Carlisle, PA 17013 (717) 759-5297 Supreme Court I.D. # 90788rri --c r) r>P CD ERIC J. DETWEILER & KRISTEN E. DETWEILER Petitioners : IN THE COURT OF COMMON : PLEAS OF CUMBERLAND : COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA • vs. CUMBERLAND COUNTY BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS, UPPER MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP AND BIG SPRING • SCHOOL DISTRICT, Respondents MUNICIPALITY: UPPER MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP Parcel No. 15-04-0393-048 NO. 12-1805 CIVIL TERM • REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENT APPEAL CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on May 14, 2014, a true and correct copy of the foregoing Praecipe for entry of Appearance, Pursuant to Pa. R.Civ.P. 1012(b) was served by means of United States mail, first class, postage prepaid, upon the following: Sally J. Winder Philip H. Spare, Esquire Petitioners STOCK AND LEADER P.O. Box 341 Attorney for Big Spring Area School District Newville, PA 17241 221 W. Philadelphia Street, Suite E-600 York, PA 17401 Sean M. Shultz, Esquire SAIDIS, SULLIVAN & ROGERS Solicitor for Upper Mifflin Township 26 W. High Street Carlisle, PA 17013 ohn G. French, Esquire