Using an annual statistic as a benchmark, Luzerne County’s property assessments are the second most accurate among the 67 Pennsylvania counties, even though it has been 16 years since the last countywide reassessment took effect.

The statistic: common level ratios released by the State Tax Equalization Board, or STEB, that compare prior-year real estate sales prices to the assessed values in each county.

An ideal ratio is 100, which means purchase prices closely mirror assessments.

Luzerne County’s new ratio is 86.2. The only county with a ratio closer to 100 is Philadelphia, at 90.70. Philadelphia reassessed last year.

For comparison, here are the ratios of some other similarly-sized third class counties: Berks, 34.37; Chester, 31.84; Cumberland, 67.80; Dauphin, 40.42; Erie, 53.21; La

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