Clayton Taxpayers Association

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Canaan,N.Y.

http://www.inman.com/news/2004/10/1/homeowners-sue-over-real-estate-assessment-practices

 Pardon this speaker, it was the first time……….

http://www.newswatch50.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=7

People who live alongside Oneida Lake in Cicero worry the latest tax assessment will force some of their neighbors out.

Ruth Willis, who lives on Long Point Point Road, said, “People are stretched to the limit and especially people on a fixed income. Do I want to pay this increase? No. Do I think it’s fair? No. Is it the end of the world? No. But to some people it feels like the end of the world.”

Residents here each received a letter stating the increased assessment. According to the Onondaga County Tax Services website, some of the waterfront home assessments have increased almost 300 percent, leaving some to wonder if the waterfront properties are being singled out.

Bernie Farrell, who has lived on the lake for 25 years, said, “What burns me up is we’re supposed to get a stimulus check, right? I’m going to take it out of the mail. I’m going to sign it and give it to the Town of Cicero.”

Tax assessor Anita Barnello says the assessments will take place across the Town of Cicero, not just the waterfront properties. Barnello, who has worked in the tax assessment office since 1999, said she sent 1,700 notices to residents, with less than 700 mailed to the waterfront property owners.

According to Barnello, the waterfront properties had not been re-evaluated in many years and now they’re finding residential properties where camps or garages used to be.

Barnello said, “They knew that for many years they’ve been flying under the radar. New construction has been floating the boat for most of the tax base when it comes to our residential areas.”

Barnello says she collects information year-round, but she couldn’t remember when tax assessors had last been to Oneida Lake. She says a small crew is now trying to collect tax dollars owed to the Town of Cicero.

A group of neighbors on Long Point Road have set up an email account for anyone who wishes to discuss the matter. You can contact them at cicerounfairtax@aol.com.

Related Links
		Office of Real Property Tax Services
		April 14 Town of Cicero board meeting minutes

reassessment

“The reassessment was not done in accordance with accepted professional standards,” said Steven Wallach, an attorney living in New Jersey.

Mr. Wallach said island cottages and other structures were valued without obtaining necessary information, including square footage, age of the structure, number of bathrooms or the condition of septic systems.

Mr. Wallach, who owns a cottage on Grenell Island, said it was unfair islanders had to pay more taxes while they weren’t even getting the basic municipal services available to residents living on the mainland, such as maintenance of the roads or sewer and water systems.

When Mr. Wallach received his 2008 assessment notification this winter, it indicated that the approximate tax liabilities would be the same as 2007 despite increases in assessed value.

“My notice indicated no change in taxes despite a 30 percent increase in assessed value,” he said. “Not surprisingly, using the rates provided by the town supervisor, my taxes will increase approximately 30 percent.”

Mr. Wallach said the town should send out a “corrected notification,” extend the period to file grievances or roll back the assessments to that of 2007.

“We have been told by our attorney and the New York State Real Property Tax Services that rolling back the assessments would not be a lawful option,” said town Supervisor Justin A. Taylor.

A letter addressed to Mr. Taylor from the New York State Office of Real Property Services states that the town has no legal authority to make changes to the assessment entries after the tentative roll was filed May 1.

“Town of Webb did just that, and the town of Cicero as recently as May 23,” Mr. Salisbury said.

In Cicero, however, the town assessor agreed to roll back the assessments at the request of the Town Council. The council in Cicero had no authority to unilaterally make the move.

Supervisor Taylor said there is a “significant difference” between the town of Cicero’s and the town of Clayton’s assessments.

“Cicero only looked at 1,700 parcels,” he said. “In our case, we looked at all of our parcels.”

Mr. Salisbury said the Clayton Taxpayers Group also is contacting state lawmakers to promote a centralized reassessment system coordinated by the state.

“The province of Ontario in 2005 removed the burden of assessment from municipalities altogether, creating a uniformly fair and equal process that all property owners in Ontario seem pleased with,” Mr. Salisbury said.

“Canadian taxpayers and municipalities are both relieved and unlitigated as a result of this, saving huge taxpayer dollars in the process.”

The group will hold its second public meeting at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall on James Street.