Very interesting on the council's agenda tonight.   Among the properties, one is 450 Duane Ave.   Very interesting.   Tax certorari suit is brought by an owner to reduce assessment when SCAR cannot be used (or for a residential owner who has lost at both the BAR and SCAR levels).    Property owners grieve their assessment because they feel they are paying too much in taxes.  Think for a moment.  Two people each have the same assessment, pay the same taxes.   One gripes about taxes ever increasing and because they see that houses are not selling at the assessment values, it's obvious that owner believes he or she is assessed too high, and thus grieves their assessment as a means to reduce their tax bill.   The second owner is looking to sell his house.  That second owner in no way will grieve his assessment.  He does not want the value of the house to go lower, which would cause him to get less in selling the house.

In other words, if one is going to sell their property, they are not going to try to get an assessment lowered.   If one is not moving, they will grieve because they want to lower their taxes.

So WHY would an owner who doesn't pay taxes want to lower their assessment?

450 Duane is assessed for $5.8 mil and 100% exempt from taxes with no end date.

Wierd, huh?

Watching the council meeting, I have to laugh.   I think that Jason Plank is buddies with DV.   That Jason is as ignorant as DV when it comes to assessment and taxes.   He commented during POF that this will reduce the revenue the city collects.   What kind of dingbat is he?   He needs to learn that a reduction in assessment will NOT cause a reduction in revenue, but rather the tax RATE will increase which will prevent loss of revenue.   What it will do, however, is in effect make the rest of the property owners make up the difference.   And obviously, he does not have the intelligence to know that the council's vote on this will actually save the city money!    It saves the city the expense of being the defendant in the court case which very often finds against the city.  If the city doesn't settle, it make take a year or more and then the assessment reduction is made retroactive which may also cause the city to refund the owner.  

The problem is that the dems in the city refuse to face the facts that property values in the city are plummeting BIG TIME.  It is a necessity for the city to again perform a massive reassessment.   Of course that will not lower tax bills, but at least two identical houses on the same street will be much more in line with each other.

City assessments are so out of whack that there is no correlation between assessments and sale prices. Remember the last reval was done before the housing bubble burst. A house recently sold in the GE Plot for 40% less than its assessment. The City cannot afford to fight every TC. This explains the over reliance on fees which must be paid by nonprofits. The problem is years of overspending and over borrowing. Next the loan on the taj mahal City garage will be payable at $500,000 a year. The only way out of the death spiral is slash spending. Between the flood of nonprofits and tax exemptions Downtown fewer and fewer are paying full freight.

I was looking at maybe trying for a reduction in assessed value. I called 2 companies, one guy told me that the assessment board denies every claim no matter what and you must go to small claims to try and get a reduction. Also he looked at sales within a mile of my house, told me my value was probably close to correct,, comparables could be anywhere in the city. The other guy was a waste of time. I'm thinking of making a few more calls, anyone know??

Quoted from Dirt2

I was looking at maybe trying for a reduction in assessed value. I called 2 companies, one guy told me that the assessment board denies every claim no matter what and you must go to small claims to try and get a reduction. Also he looked at sales within a mile of my house, told me my value was probably close to correct,, comparables could be anywhere in the city. The other guy was a waste of time. I'm thinking of making a few more calls, anyone know??

The guy who told you that the assessment board denies every claim, is correct. You could go down there with all kinds of sales data and comparables and approximately a month later you will receive a letter from the BAR that there was "insufficient data" that you provided (even though it could have filled two large boxes) so they could collect their 3 to 5 grand for sitting on their cans and watching you all squirm.

If you absolutely want to waste your time and money you may go down yourself. That would be as effective as hiring someone and then you can see for yourself how it works.

The only people that I know for sure that had their assessment lowered went to small claims court and had their homes appraised by a court appointed assessor. PS the city assessor didn't like it very much when the results came back and the cities assessment was too high and had to be lowered by court order.

Dirt2-I talked to the new assessor before filing my papers for review and asked to have an informal meeting. She said she had no time as she was new but next year.  I've gone to the assessment reviews and like Pat said got the usual insufficient data letter. I went on to the court and did win, but you have to make sure you get the paperwork to all involved, and everything made out correctly, as many were denied even a court hearing due to this.

The review board is still run by the same people that have been on it for many years and once a guy was actually sleeping during my few minutes with them.

What is needed is a new review board with people who will ACTUALLY look at what is presented and people who are honest.

As for the new assessor I hope she keeps her word and lets people do the informal reviews and I hope she is fair. We will see. Good luck.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOUR VALUE IS.....THE GOVERNMENT WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY WILL TAKE IN TAXES BASED ON THE RATE/LEVY.......THE GOVERNMENT WILL DENY ANYTHING......

THE GOVERNMENT WILL LISTEN VERY VERY VERY CLOSELY TO THE RATING AGENCIES......

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PAY GOVERNMENT WORKERS FROM YOUR SWEAT......

Quoted from senders

THE GOVERNMENT WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOUR VALUE IS.....THE GOVERNMENT WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY WILL TAKE IN TAXES BASED ON THE RATE/LEVY.......THE GOVERNMENT WILL DENY ANYTHING......

THE GOVERNMENT WILL LISTEN VERY VERY VERY CLOSELY TO THE RATING AGENCIES......

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PAY GOVERNMENT WORKERS FROM YOUR SWEAT......

Agreed.  The kicker in the near future is that the Federal and State Teat is getting raw and something has to give.  I believe that the FEDs and NYS will start to look at this situation and then make the determination that it would be better to invest with momentum (Albany and Saratoga County) rather than continue to throw the money in the black hole (Schenectady County in case you didnt get it )

LESSON.....it's not worth owning a home......unless it's an apartment complex/hotel and you have the best suite there.......

It is just a hostle environment all the way around now in Schenectady. Wasnt great the past 5 years but it has become downright scary the past year.   Single family, Owner Occupied, or Commercial Rental or Business doesnt matter.  The only ones who will stay are those who can't sell.  The only ones who will stay are those who have a special tax deal or just fought their assessment and won.  The only buyers are the connected, uninformed or need their heads examined.  

The eviction courts in Schenectady are pro tenant.  Have never seen a landlord be awarded a judgement on a tenant who didnt pay.  

If you are one of those people who fought and won your assessment challenge, dont think you are home free.  You've got yours coming.  You will be on "THE LIST".    

When are the tax bills coming out?  Wont get the bills in the mail but will definetly see an escrow increase notice from all my banks about 2 months latter.