Assessment
Office Hours:
Tuesday and Wednesdays
9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Important Links:
About the Assessor
The Assessor is a local government official who estimates the value of real property within the Town’s boundaries. This value is converted into an assessment, which is one component in the computation of real property tax bills. Other components include school, County and Town budgets, exemptions, apportionment among segments, and levies. The Assessor does not set tax rates and can not adjust your tax bill. He or she can only address your property value. If you feel your assessment is fair but your taxes are too high, you should contact the individual taxing jurisdiction.
About the Office
The assessor and staff maintain the assessment roll – the document that contains the assessed value of every property within the town. To do this, the physical description, inventory and value estimate of every parcel of real property in the municipality is kept up-to-date.
The assessor keeps informed regarding new construction within the town and major changes to existing structures in order to maintain their most current value. The assessor also approves and administers qualified property tax exemption applications for:
- Agricultural
- Low Income Senior Aged 65+
- Senior Enhanced STAR (own prior to 03/01/2015)
- Veterans
- Low Income/Disability
The assessor reviews every transfer of real property in the municipality. The basic information on the buyer, seller and sale price is reviewed for accuracy. Assessment records are then updated.
Form Links
Alt Vets Exemption:
https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/orpts/rp458a_fill_in.pdf
Disabled Vets Rating Change Exemption:
https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/orpts/rp458adis_fill_in.pdf
Low Income Seniors Exemption:
https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/orpts/rp467_fill_in.pdf
What you should know about STAR
It seems like every year a change is made to the way both Assessor’s and the State of New York handles STAR (School Tax Assessment Relief). While we all know change is inevitable, it doesn’t always make it understandable!
If you purchased your home on or after 3/1/2015, the State of New York Department of Taxation and Finance (NYSDTF) made it mandatory that you apply directly with their department. You can not apply with your local Assessor. For the basic STAR the income maximum is $500,000. For Senior Enhanced STAR (65 years of age or older) the limit is $98,700. You will receive a check instead of an exemption on your school tax bill. You can call NYSDTF at (518) 457-2036 to register or go on line at www.tax.ny.gov/star. Please keep in mind that the Assessor has no ability to verify your status if you are required to register with NYSDTF.
If you purchased your home prior to 3/1/2015, AND you already have an existing STAR exemption with the Assessor, you have two options. You may apply to the Assessor to upgrade to Senior Enhanced STAR when you become eligible. The exemption deadline is March 1st of every year. Your second option is to apply with NYSDTF (see web address above) and receive a check mailed directly to you in September before school taxes are due. The deadline to switch to a check is June 15th to guarantee receipt of your check in September. The benefit of applying with NYSDTF is that your benefit amount may increase by up to 2% each year. The Star exemption with the Assessor can never increase.
Keep in mind that if you have the exemption with the Assessor, the value of that exemption comes directly off your tax bill. If you switch to the NYSDTF check and have an escrow, your escrow payment will increase by the value of the exemption. You should therefore, notify your mortgage company so that you don’t have a shortage in the first year. Although it is your decision, we feel that you are better off in the long run with the check from NYSDTF.