Sweden residents once again packed the courtroom at the Sweden Town Hall Tuesday, June 3 for a forum on assessment practices.
The forum was presented by Steve Lauzze of the New York State Office of Real Property Services. He was invited by the Town of Sweden to explain to residents the assessment process, including the real property tax equation, duties of an assessor, the reassessment process, and information on how to compile material before beginning the assessment complaint process.
The forum was in response to concerns expressed by residents during an April 22 Sweden Town Board meeting over what they say are inequitable and unfair property assessments and poor treatment received from Sweden Town Assessor Tony Eaffaldano.
“We thought it was a good idea to address the issue (of assessments),” Sweden Supervisor Rob Carges said at the beginning of the forum. He said he sat through four hours of the recently-held assessment grievance day.
“I was very impressed by it,” Carges said. “The (Board of Assessment Review) did an excellent job – they asked all the right questions.”
During the presentation, residents frequently asked Lauzze questions. He told the audience he could not talk about an assessor personally, “… only about the assessment process.” He noted many times that much of the assessment process is governed by state law.
“Paying taxes is kind of emotional,” he said. “We’re trying to make it more understandable.”
One resident asked if it was possible for an assessor to “skew” an assessment any way he wants.
“There is no benefit to an assessor to do that,” Lauzze said. Later during the forum when a similar question arose, he said he would not call the process “skewing,” “I would call it judgment,” Lauzze said.
He explained that the assessment process is not a science nor infallible, and that under state law, assessors do have much autonomy in their duties. “I’ve heard horror stories,” Lauzze said. “Some of them think they are God … most assessors do a pretty good job. They don’t get paid any extra for raising an assessment.”
Brockport resident Pamela Ketchum questioned whether the state’s two percent cap on tax levies has put pressure on assessors to raise assessments.
“No,” Lauzze said. “It’s still that same formula (the real property tax equation). None of it should make any difference.”
Some residents asked Lauzze to whom a town assessor is accountable.
He responded that assessors are appointed by the town board for a term of six years and must meet minimum qualifications as well as take needed courses for learning about the assessment process.
The town cannot give oversight as far as assessments are concerned, but as the assessor is a town employee, the town has control as a personnel matter, Lauzze explained. He said he had heard of assessors being fired who had not been performing their duties.
“Public officers law is complicated,” Supervisor Carges noted.
In the end, “… the burden of proof is on you,” Lauzze told residents regarding assessments and the grievance process. “Checks and balances come at the end of the process through grievances and small claims.”
Brockport resident Mary Rich expressed some frustration at the end of the meeting as to whether the town board is really hearing concerns expressed by residents, and over the fact that according to state law, the assessor has so much power in the process.
“We should write our local representatives and tell them there is a problem in New York State,” Rich said.
She told the Suburban News/Hamlin-Clarkson Herald that she was glad the town board, “… would take us seriously enough to invite Mr. Lauzze here.”
She says she may need to regroup at this point while continuing to put pressure on the town, “to let them know we are watching and that we care,” Rich said. “Even if the town cannot look at the assessment, they can look at overall patterns of behavior and inconsistencies.” As an example, she said some properties in the town are reassessed annually, while others are not and that assessments have risen even when no improvements have been made to properties.
Following the forum, Supervisor Carges invited those interested to attend the town board workshop session and welcomed additional comments from residents.
