STERLING - Assessments - when to have them and who should do them - are on the minds of the Sterling Town Board members.
Town councilors recently decided to have the town assessed at 100 percent every year, but they have also resolved to indicate opposition to countywide assessment. They plan to address possible alternative recommendations.
Kathy Rode, a town resident and member of the town's Board of Assessment Review, came to a town board meeting this week to support the board's decision on annual full-value assessing. Rode, a lakefront property owner, said it's confusing for taxpayers when assessments are made on a different basis, such as every three years.
“The bill is easier to read and exemptions are easier to understand,” she said. “It also gives an assessor a chance to fine-tune the assessment rolls. The taxpayers know exactly where they stand.”
The exploration of a countywide assessment system stems from Cayuga County receiving some grant money to look at ways the county may want to refine the assessment process.
Representatives from the towns of Cato, Ira, Sterling, Victory and Conquest have met with Al Kozlowski, director of Cayuga County Real Property Tax Services, to discuss assessment issues.
The Sterling town board recommended against countywide assessment because a number of municipalities in the same school district are in different counties.
“It would really have to be a New York state mandate,” town board member Ilona Palmieri said, “a carrot-and-stick approach. The state needs to give towns the incentive to work cooperatively and figure out ways to save money.”
Heather Garner, town assessor, submitted a required six-year plan for assessments to the town, which shows where assessed valuations in the town are now and where they might go in the future. A timetable schedule explains who does what and when.
It can be modified at any time, Garner said.
“One of the interesting things it shows is sales breakdown and total assessment,” she said. “For example, there were 43 agricultural parcels which totaled $4 million. It shows how many were sold and the average selling price.”
She also provided the town with copies of a map that shows all towns in New York state with respect to reassessment.
“Thirteen percent of towns in New York state have not been reassessed in more than 30 years,” Garner said. “Often times, high-end properties benefit by not doing revaluations.”
Leslie Parsons, a Sterling resident, was approved as a candidate for assessor.
Sterling Town Supervisor Joan Kelley noted that mandated exemptions, such as the STAR exemptions, are now required to be included in the annual budget.
She agreed that 100 percent assessments maximize exemptions and make them easier to understand.
She noted that many towns in Oswego County are assessed on that basis.
“They are ahead of Cayuga County in that regard,” she said.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Kathy Rode, a town resident and member of the town's Board of Assessment Review, came to a town board meeting this week to support the board's decision on annual full-value assessing. Rode, a lakefront property owner, said it's confusing for taxpayers when assessments are made on a different basis, such as every three years.
“The bill is easier to read and exemptions are easier to understand,” she said. “It also gives an assessor a chance to fine-tune the assessment rolls. The taxpayers know exactly where they stand.”
The exploration of a countywide assessment system stems from Cayuga County receiving some grant money to look at ways the county may want to refine the assessment process.
Representatives from the towns of Cato, Ira, Sterling, Victory and Conquest have met with Al Kozlowski, director of Cayuga County Real Property Tax Services, to discuss assessment issues.
The Sterling town board recommended against countywide assessment because a number of municipalities in the same school district are in different counties.
“It would really have to be a New York state mandate,” town board member Ilona Palmieri said, “a carrot-and-stick approach. The state needs to give towns the incentive to work cooperatively and figure out ways to save money.”
Heather Garner, town assessor, submitted a required six-year plan for assessments to the town, which shows where assessed valuations in the town are now and where they might go in the future. A timetable schedule explains who does what and when.
It can be modified at any time, Garner said.
“One of the interesting things it shows is sales breakdown and total assessment,” she said. “For example, there were 43 agricultural parcels which totaled $4 million. It shows how many were sold and the average selling price.”
She also provided the town with copies of a map that shows all towns in New York state with respect to reassessment.
“Thirteen percent of towns in New York state have not been reassessed in more than 30 years,” Garner said. “Often times, high-end properties benefit by not doing revaluations.”
Leslie Parsons, a Sterling resident, was approved as a candidate for assessor.
Sterling Town Supervisor Joan Kelley noted that mandated exemptions, such as the STAR exemptions, are now required to be included in the annual budget.
She agreed that 100 percent assessments maximize exemptions and make them easier to understand.
She noted that many towns in Oswego County are assessed on that basis.
“They are ahead of Cayuga County in that regard,” she said.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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Biggguy wrote on Nov 22, 2008 9:42 PM:
The town is doing the taxpayers a diservice by insisting on stroking their own egos and attempting to hang on to their power base by refusing to give up the assessment function to a larger, more efficient, better qualified office. "