TOWN OF GREENFIELD

The Assessor’s Corner

By John Bonanno, SCAA  

Assessment Dates & Info - Year 2007-08

Hi! I just wanted to update you on what’s been happening in the Assessor’s office the last year.

2007 Town Wide Reassessment Project

In November 2006 we sent out “Data Mailers” to all property owners to give you a chance to review the information on file about your property. We received over 400 responses, most replied that the data was fine, some were returned with minor changes and about a dozen required a field inspection to resolve the homeowner’s concerns.

I conducted an extensive review of all sales for the years 2004 to 2006. From the sales information I developed time trends, updated land schedules, and determined new assessments for the Town’s 3,827 parcels.

Many Greenfield property owners took advantage of various opportunities offered, to meet with staff to ask questions and review their tentative assessments values in early 2007. We conducted over 350 assessment reviews. The Town Board gave its approval to hire 2 part time staff to help Lorraine and I in providing timely and courteous response to your questions. I enjoyed the chance to share the data we have on file and to meet and talk with so many of you. In some cases we were able to adjust the tentative values due to information/documentation provided by the homeowner. Most homeowners however did not receive any reduction in their tentative assessment, but I believe the vast majority went away confident in the professionalism and fairness of the assessor’s office.

In recognition of the Town of Greenfield ’s efforts, the New York State Office of Real Property Services awarded the Town a certificate of Excellence for providing “…fair and equitable assessments for its property owners on the 2007 assessment roll… (And)…complying with New York States highest standards for assessment administration.” and was awarded State Aid of over $19,000 for the successful completion of the reassessment project.

 In addition, the Town/Highway tax rate for 2008 decreased from $1.30 per thousand dollar assessment to $. 97, due in part to the reassessment project but also in part to the tight fiscal policies of the Town board.

As part of the Town’s commitment to a policy of fair and equitable assessments, we are in the process of reviewing and updating assessments to prepare the 2008 assessment role at a level of assessment of 100%.

I would like to share with you my findings of market conditions to this point in time and my plans for the 2008 reassessment project.  Recent media articles proclaiming the collapse of the housing market are overstated and tend to be more representative of specific areas in the Country and not of the Town of Greenfield . What I have found for 2007 is a leveling off to a slight positive trend for housing. However, the trend is significantly lower than the double digits of the early 2000’s but still no downward trends are indicated at this time. Also, the time it takes to sell a house has increased and the sales of older homes (pre 1960’s) have diminished considerably. The sale of vacant land is ongoing with the vast majority of sales being of parcels from 2-12 acres in size. Again prices seem to be static to a slight positive trend.

This year’s reassessment will focus on fine tuning values in the Town’s 10 neighborhoods and updating land schedules in an effort to maintain a level of assessment of 100%.

No one likes to pay taxes. Ever increasing school budgets have put a tremendous tax burden on the property owner in recent years.  I look at my job as your assessor with two goals in mind: To make sure the assessments are correct and equitable and that all valid exemptions are applied. This will help to ensure that you pay only your fair share of the tax burden.  

The assessor’s office is here to answer your questions and to work with you. Both Lorraine and I are part time employees of the Town. Typically someone is in the office weekdays from 9AM to 1 PM.  If you have any questions for me when I’m not in the office, please feel free to call me on my cell phone (518) 852-8513 or e-mail me at johnbmas@logical.net with your questions.