Some counties face spending millions to update data.
In Schuylkill, last reassessed in 1960, are an estimated 85,000 properties. Carbon officials, in a budget squeeze with a costly prison project, feel there are other short-term options to reassessment, such as an occupational levy. Aware of mounting legal challenges in other counties, Schuylkill commissioners feel reassessment will have to be done eventually, despite possible real estate tax reforms. Reassessments were recently completed in Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bradford and Adams counties. In Berks, figures for the 1994 reassessed values will be released next month.