After receiving numerous calls from Fleming residents and explaining to them why their taxes keep going up, I informed them most of the newer homes are over-assessed due to our equalization rate dropping, forcing their full assessment to increase. When residential properties are sold that are under-assessed, Fleming residents are penalized because this drives our equalization rate down and causes our portion of county and school taxes to increase. The neighboring towns and city of Auburn residents' taxes are lower because their equalization rate is closer to the 100 percent. The state of New York is working toward mandating the town to maintain a 100 percent equalization rate.

One Fleming resident who called me purchased his home for $95,000 through a realtor two years ago, and his assessment next year, based on the 41.5 percent equalization rate, would be at $144,000. Another resident bought his modular home that was built five years ago from the bank for $117,000 and his partial assessment is $91,000 so his full assessment next year would be around $219,000. Being a new Fleming resident, he didn't realize he had to fight from day one on his assessment because of our equalization rate dropping over the last five years, which resulted in him paying higher taxes that he should be. Fleming residents have not been at full assessment in more than 30 years.

If you believe your assessment is inaccurate at next year's equalization rate of 41.5 percent, you should first call your town assessor to have them revaluate your assessment and explain to them why your assessment is unfair. To figure out your full assessment for next year, you have to divide 41.52 into your partial assessment that is on your tax bill or this can be found in the tax book at the Town Hall, and this brings you the full assessment amount you will pay taxes on. If you are not satisfied with the assessor's meeting, then your next step is to file a New York state Board of Real Property Service complaint of real property assessment and this form can be picked up at the town offices. A hearing is held in the latter part of May to hear your grievance. After that, if you are still not satisfied with your assessment, you would need to file a small claim petition with Cayuga County. The process is simple, easy and is explained in the taxpayer's guide “How to File a Complaint on Your Assessment.” This booklet can be picked up at the town offices on Dublin Road.

I hope when the town decides to hire a certified assessor to help our town assessors to fairly assess the Fleming residents and this person happens to live in Fleming, I think their property and all town elected officials should be reassessed first to assure all Fleming residents that the assessments are being fairly done and without bias. Then this information should be available for all other Fleming residents to review at the town hall.

Dennis Walawender

Fleming