Fleming town assessments disproportionate, unfair

Monday, February 11, 2008 11:50 AM EST

I am writing again regarding our town assessments and how it affects the equalization rates in the Town of Fleming.
€ In the years 2000-2003 the equalization rate was 70 percent, so therefore a $128,000 house that was valued at full assessment would be assessed at $90,000 in the Town of Fleming.

€ Two years later the town's equalization rate dropped to 60 percent, so the $90,000 assessment that was placed would now have a full assessment value of $150,000.

€ In 2008, the town's equalization rate is now 41.52 percent and that $90,000 assessment that was placed in 2000 now has a full assessment value of $216,000.

The majority of Fleming residents are being penalized each time the equalization rate drops because there is a portion of the town that is grossly under-assessed.

In my research of the town board minutes, New York State Real Property Services contacted the Fleming town assessors and town board a couple years ago recommending that the town do something to increase the town's equalization rate. At that time the assessors recommended to the town board to hire Maxwell Appraisal Services to start collecting data for each tax parcel to obtain a current inventory. Maxwell Appraisal Services informed the town board last summer that they determined there were many inaccuracies and missing data from the tax rolls so they stated that it would only be fair to do a revaluation of all parcels to correct these problems.

If our assessors would do the right thing for ALL Fleming residents, they would advise the town board to hire Maxwell Appraisal Services to put values on the properties that they did the data collection on last year. This would bring down the town's equalization rate and every resident in Fleming would be paying their FAIR SHARE of the school and county taxes.

If you have not gotten a grievance booklet to fight your assessment, go to the town offices on Dublin Road and get one. This booklet is very informational and will help you as a taxpayer grieve your unfair assessment.

Next town board meeting is 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11.

Dennis Walawender

Town of Fleming

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There are 1 comment(s)

brew1234 wrote on Feb 12, 2008 12:00 AM:

" Why don't you just assess at full rate and quit the games with equalization? Just assess the property at full value and set a tax rate. You're just playing games with the numbers. "

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