(a) Establishment and membership.--

(1) Counties of the second class A and third class shall, and counties of the fourth through eighth classes may, establish a board to be known as the board of assessment appeals, which shall be composed of three members. The members of the board shall be appointed by the county commissioners to serve for terms of four years each. Vacancies on the board shall be filled by appointment by the county commissioners for the unexpired terms. The salary of the members of the board shall be fixed by the salary board of the county.

(1.1) The county commissioners may, on or after the first organizational meeting occurring after the effective date of this paragraph and every four years thereafter, elect to appoint board members under paragraph (1) for terms of two years each or four years each.

(1.2) The county commissioners shall be prohibited from appointing a member to the board who is an employee of or contractor with the county assessment office or is a party to any contract with the county assessment office other than one that may be created for service as a board member.

(2) In each county of the fourth through eighth classes that has not created a separate board of assessment appeals in accordance with paragraph (1), there is established a board of assessment revision. The county commissioners shall serve as a board of assessment revision. The county commissioner holding the oldest certificate of election shall be the chairman.

(b) Powers and duties of board.--The board has the following powers and duties:

(1) Appoint, with the approval of the county commissioners, clerks, engineers and other employees as necessary.

(2) Promulgate regulations as provided in section 8852 (relating to regulations and training of boards).

(3) Hear and determine appeals, as provided in section 8844 (relating to notices, appeals and certification of values).

(4) Establish the form of the assessment roll as provided in section 8841 (relating to assessment roll and interim revisions).

(5) Prepare annually and submit to the county commissioners an estimate of the expense to be incurred incidental to the carrying out of the provisions of this chapter.

(6) Establish a permanent system of records as required by section 8834 (relating to assessment records system).

(c) Expenses to be paid by county.--The county commissioners shall appropriate annually to the board funds necessary for the payment of salaries, wages and other expenses incurred in carrying out the duties imposed upon the board and its employees by this chapter.

(d) Organization of board meetings; action by majority.--

(1) The members of the board shall meet and organize as a board at the same time and place as the county commissioners meet for the purpose of organizing. The board shall meet from time to time at the call of the chairman or of any member, upon personal notice to each member. No action shall be taken by the board except by a majority vote of all the members of the board, and all actions of the board shall be recorded in writing.

(2) The county commissioners shall appoint a chairman of the board unless the county commissioners serve as the board of assessment revision, in which case the commissioner holding the oldest certificate of election shall be the chairman.

(Oct. 24, 2018, P.L.1139, No.155, eff. Jan. 1, 2020)

2018 Amendment. Act 155 amended subsec. (b)(2) and added subsec. (a)(1.1) and (1.2).

Cross References. Section 8851 is referred to in section 8802 of this title.