The York County commissioners aren't sure if there will be a countywide property reassessment next year, as local taxpayers face a debt of at least $10 million for the 79-acre Highpoint property in Lower Windsor Township.

Commissioner Chris Reilly said Tuesday that last week's ruling in a jury trial, which determined how much the county had to pay developer Peter Alecxih Jr. for the land, won't have much weight on their decision.

Reassessments are "necessary, and problems crop up when you ignore it for too long a period," he said. "They're expensive, but they're a necessary evil."

It was briefly considered for this year's county budget, but was scrapped when Reilly and Commissioners Doug Hoke and Steve Chronister tweaked the spending plan they inherited from the previous board.

The move trimmed $1 million from the general fund budget.

A reassessment would be needed because, with the county using assessed values calculated in 2004, some property owners pay less than they should while some pay more.

Still, the commissioners are unsure about calling for the evaluation, and Chronister on Tuesday recognized public fears that the move would be nothing more than a "back-door" way of raising taxes.

County taxpayers are already on the hook for the money owed to Alecxih for Highpoint -- almost $10 million, plus interest, of the $17.25 million the jury decided the land was worth. Alecxih has already received $7.5 million from the county.

That doesn't

cover costs the county could pay in an expected settlement for 411 acres in Lauxmont Farms, which the county condemned for a park.

But Chronister and Steve Snell, the executive officer for the Realtors Association of York and Adams Counties, said reassessments don't necessarily mean higher taxes. They're just adjustments made to ensure everyone is paying taxes on the true value of their properties.

"Everyone needs to pay their fair share - not any more or any less," Chronister said.

Reilly said he believed the right time for it could be next year or 2010, before slumping property values rebound. That might lessen hikes in assessed values that some could see.

After that, he said, the county should do it regularly.

Hoke said the county will wait to gather more information before deciding whether it will happen next year.

"I think that with any expenditure of $1 million to $2 million, we'll have to take a serious look at it," he said.

epaik@ydr.com; 771-2001

ABOUT REASSESSMENTS

The county's current assessed property values are based on figures calculated in 2004.

Adjustments are recommended when the assessed value of property drops to 85 percent of the market value. As of today, it is 76 -- the common-level ratio.

The reassessment process takes two years to complete. Last year, it was estimated to cost about $1 million each year.