“Get On Board”, the CTA.

Join The "CTA"   and get on board!
Join The “CTA” and get on board!

Recent News    9/25/09

Below is the info. we used to write our letter to the Editor of the T.I. Sun by Dave Knapp this week in response to the Town Board statement last week! 

This should clear a few things up!     They sure are fighting  hard to miss direct public opinion on the Law suit.  If you disagree with what you read in the media, please speak out with your thoughts.  Its important now to wage a good fight and stand up for our rights!

The following was quoted from a letter to Will Salisbury in response to the erroneous Quotes in the T.I.Sun by a representive of NYS in league with our Assessor!

 

      ”  I believe your response should focus on your collective perceptions of the inequities in the Town of Clayton. Perhaps you should also comment on the Town’s unresponsiveness to the concerns of the owners who comprise the Clayton Taxpayers Association.

 

        In passing you may comment on the ORPS characterization that none of the law suits has been successful.

 

        In fact, there is significant litigation that remains pending.  Without getting into the specifics, the status of the cases can be summarized as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

TOWN OF HARRIETSTOWN

                                       

The law suits commenced by 32 property owners have been settled, with the owners receiving significant refunds as a result of reductions to their assessments.

 

        The Town has appointed a new assessor, and there have been fundamental changes in the Town’s assessment administration. The annual revaluation policy was rescinded, and a new data collection program is underway.

 

       

TOWN OF QUEENSBURY

 

        Following a 2005 revaluation, 73 property owners sued the Town claiming that the process was flawed and that the assessment roll was unfair.

 

        60 owners have now received significant reductions in their assessments, and the Town has cancelled its intended annual revaluation policy.  A new assessor has been appointed.

 

        This case continues for 13 of the original litigants.

 

 

TOWN OF BLEECKER

 

        Following a 2005 revaluation, 43 petitioners sued the town claiming that the revaluation was improper and that the assessment roll is inequitable.  The case will be tried in the near future.

       

 

 

TOWN OF SCHROON

 

        Following a 2006 revaluation, 125 petitioners sued the town claiming that the assessment roll was inequitable and unfairly influenced by political considerations. The case has yet to be tried.

 

 

        Clearly there is a widespread belief that the real property tax system is being poorly administered in many towns.  The property tax is increasing at an alarming rate, and for many homeowners the annual tax bill has become impossible.  Although correction of this situation will require change in the fiscal structure of the State, while this is happening, the system must at least be administered fairly and accurately.  That is the goal of the CTA.”

        Robert Beebe   (9/19/09)

       

    The Article 7’s have been filed as of 7/29/09 and we should hear more soon. Good job getting all your ducks in a row!  

  Your assessment is viewable on the County site…  Under the Link… http://www.co.jefferson.ny.us/rpstoweb.nsf/main . Also Research on yours and other properties can be done from the main page on the County Site as well,  using the Property Data Search LINK… Which takes you to the following page… http://www.co.jefferson.ny.us/rpstoweb.nsf/$$Search4.  
 
  Again I remind all, whether in or out of our group that grieving a High Assessment for whatever reason you give, by comparing yours to lower assessed properties, may reduce your Assessment. Doing this yearly will keep your figures lower than your neighbors through persistence!
 
 
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  Good luck making waves,  Will

    Please post any Ideas or thoughts just click on comments  and be sure to call if you have any questions.   315-408-1836

Let us answer your questions please..

  We now have Our Law Firm representing us and wish more participants in our lawsuit to correct assessments in the Town of Clayton.      This is the Lawyer’s Website;   http://www.beebelaw.com/Bio/RobertBeebe.asp   If you are interested please E-mail us at my3crows@hughes.net  and we will try to answer your inquiry as soon as possible or if you wish to have the paperwork for joining us sent to you, we will do so.   

 We continue to take participants until the Lawyer says that’s it!                              I think the cut off will be in late Sept., 2009.    This makes  you eligable to be in our Association,  CTA.    If you wish your particulars to be represented or have a case that is important to our case , you should get “on board” soon.    5/13/09    

 

 

           Use this site for  a reference source by clicking LINKS to the Left !

Letter to Clayton Taxpayer Association 10/09/08 re-vised 3/09/09

   Well, here we are at the last level of response to our 100% Assessments of 2008 and thus your taxes this year; The Article 78 Lawsuit against the Town of Clayton, the Assessor, the  LaFargevlile and T.I. Central School Boards to be filed this year.   It seems apparent that nothing but a Judge’s decision will get our local government to follow the rule of law as determined by New York State, ORPS. 

  David, Jim and I have met with Robert Bebee, who for 18 years was the  Counsel General for the Office of Real Property Services of NYS, ORPS.  Mr.. Bebee is the most experienced lawyer in this field of law.  With the Article 78 Law suits, Mr. Bebee is representing five groups in New York State with similar, if not the same grievances as ours!

   

         The outcome of which could have tremendous impact on the assessment process.  I should say up front that there is no guarantee of results! 

  This is a costly process.  Cost is estimated to be $70,000 .  We are trying to sign up enough people so that the cost will be shared by many and lessen the burden.

  We  have approximately 35 + commited property owners.  Some of you are included in this number.  This would mean a commitment of $1,000. each to start and if we, as a group, decide to go the whole way, it could mean another  payment in July. If more than this join us the cost of the second payment goes down.  

  

  The outcome of Article-78 in other Townships have resulted in the removal of the Assessor, the Court ordered hiring of a real Assessment Firm by the Town and  a complete un-biased reassessment of the Township! 

   We wish to go the whole route and really make some changes that may effect all taxpayers.  To us this would be the best outcome. 

   

    Robert Bebee, whose practice is in the Albany region is representing us and has met with us on 10/8/08   http://www.beebelaw.com/Bio/RobertBeebe.asp

  

If you are interested, now that you have gotten your 2nd Tax Bill and seen your % of increase in Tax,  Please contact us  and we will make arrangements for your particapation!

 

I will not be posting any more details of these issues or particulars on www.claytontaxpayers.com , every thing between us will be handled in E-Mails or by phone.                                                                          Thanks , Will Salisbury, David Knapp & Jim Ludwig

                 315-408-1836, 315-523-0312, 315-686-5126

 The next letter was sent out late February 2009

 Hi, I hope I may be able to speak with all of you , so if you wish more INFO. please send me your Phone number or call at your convience.

   We are on a roll and with your help things can only improve!  Below is a letter we sent out recently……. You should recieve paper work from Robert Beebe soon, the E-address will be from Cyntha Suarez an assistant so look for that E-Mail.    Thanks, Will   4/15/09

 
 
    

To All Island Taxpayers,

 

Last year we started forming a group that is pursuing litigation against the Town of Clayton, the Assessor and  both school districts that cover the Town of Clayton.  We have hired Robert Beebe, from the Albany area, as our Lawyer.  Mr. Beebe is currently representing other groups with the same intentions and concerns as ours.  His web site is under the links tab on our website.  

Mr. Beebe is the top lawyer in this field in New York State, and came highly recommended by these other groups.  Mr. Beebe was the Consul General for NYS Office of Real Property Services for 18 years (ORPS).   He knows when a township has crossed the line and can prove this with the letter of law and facts, presenting to the judge the illegal grounds upon which the assessor carried out our assessment.  No ones taxes should increase 40-80-100% in one year, thus allowing for inland taxes to go down an average of 15- 20%. 

Please check you tax records for years 2007, 2008, and now for the start 2009.  Calculate your percentage of actual tax dollar increase.    Islanders are being taken for a ride and we mean to put an end to this policy. 

Our goal is 75 participants but 50 would be great.  The more people involved the less cost for everyone.

 

The intention of the lawsuit is to:   This section we removed as this info. should be kept amoung us until the Lawsuit is filed.

 

 

 All these requests are standard results sought in this and other cases.  These requests are also all or in part a result of the legal decision as to the illegal manner in which the 100% re-evaluation was done in 2008. 

Our web site is : www.claytontaxpayers.com.  We have not put any recent actions on the site or any list of properties or participants involved.  If you wish more information on who is involved, are interested in, or have questions, please call or E-Mail me.   We consider this action like “money under the mattress”, and are confident of a positive outcome.

 Please pass this along to anyone who might be interested and wishes to save on future Tax Bills, ( Get back over paid tax dollars.)

 

Respectfully yours,

  Will Salisbury

315-408-1836

 

 

Its time to decide!

 

The Clayton Taxpayers Group is seeking Participants in an Article 78 Lawsuit against the Town of Clayton and their Assessor.

 

The illegal actions of the Assessor will be the main contentions of this Lawsuit. Such actions have resulted in Waterfront and Island properties being assessed at unrealistic values.  We are going to change and correct our assessments by use of the very laws that our assessor has failed to uphold, as mandated by New York State.

 

We will be represented by the best and most experienced legal mind in the State of New York, the former General Counsel of the

Office of Real Property Services

 

All Clayton Taxpayers are welcome to join this legal action!

 

Anyone interested may become more informed online at:

 

www.claytontaxpayers.com

 

Or please call 315-408-1836

 

Deadline is June 26, 2009

 

 

 

Saranac Conference, Aug. 22

  Dave Knapp, myself and also Joe Pacini are going to this event on Aug 22.    We hope to network with others of like mind and express our ideas.  The focus is on State lands not being assessed properly and not carrying their weight in the Tax levy, thus putting a great burden on local taxpayers.   These groups are all bringing Article 78 Suits against their townships, and are all represented by Atty. Robert Bebee. 

  Their legal action is described in this Blog under Article 78.   We are meeting Robert Bebee with others for dinner on Thur. night and look forward to express our plight and suggested soultions for our State. We hope to learn alot and we will try our best to report on this meeting soon afterward.   78 no debate…78 no debate…….78 no debate….Thanks, Will

Article 78 Chatter, Future participants

  • jen starks Says:
    I am also a very dissatisfied taxpayer and feel the Assessor and her office have been very unfair and deceptive through this process. I have filed a small claims assessment review. I would like to get more involved in the process and help with the Article 78 and getting people to join. Are your meetings always on a Saturday evening because this is almost impossible for me to attend?
    Let me know how I can help. Thank you for your efforts.
  • Meeting OF 7/26/08 + JOE PACINIS COMMENTS OF 8/18/08

    The meeting was very informative. Joe Pacini, Author of ” Fighting Back”   [Appeal your property tax assessment made easy], spoke to us of his experiences and knowledge gained as he worked through the system. He is helping other groups and plans to return soon.  If you plan on filing a Small Claims court Petition , you mut submit you petition by 7/30/08 to the Jeff. CO. Clerk,(3copies),  Jeff. C. Treasurer,  T. of C. Clerk,    T. of C. Assessor,  Your school District, and one for your Records. 8 Copies in all, and get them all stamped at the County Clerks Office as recieved. I repeat -and get the petitions stamped as recieved!  8 copies in all. A $ 30.00 filing fee as well!    The petition is first, then you have time to do your home work for your presentation in Court.  His book is available, and question’s for  Joe Pacini at  joepacini@yahoomail.com . Those who are not satisfied with the results of Small Claims Court can still join us in the Article 78 Proceding in the Fall. For that matter anyone can do Article 78  even if no Grievance was filed.  Minutes should be up soon of our meeting.   Old Home Day at Potters Beach Today………….crows5

    The Minutes are up and posted!

    Floating Realestate

    Floating Real Estate

    Contact us @

    David Knapp    David Knapp   dak.designandconstructing@gmail.com    315- 523-0312    or   Will Salisbury  my3crows@hughes.net    315-686-0015