School District Disputes Landfill Appraisal

Lynn Schenkman

Scranton, Pa. –- An appraiser hired to settle a multi-million dollar dispute between the Mid Valley School District and the Keystone Sanitary Landfill has testified before the Lackawanna County Board of Assessors this week. The appraiser, Vincent Dowling, who the county hired, set the market value of the 864-acre property at $15 million to $19 million. An appraiser from the school district set the value at $100 million. The school district stands to receive more tax revenue from the landfill depending on how it is appraised. At issue is whether a permit that allows the landfill to take refuse should be considered part of the property. If it is, the market value will be closer to $100 million vs. the lower estimation.