Tax assessor’s dance card filled up

March 20, 2009
by Christine Yeres

In its work session Tuesday, March 17, Town Board Supervisor Barbara Gerrard reported that New Castle Assessor John McGrory, with close to 200 appointments with residents for informal review of their tax grievances, is “completely booked.” A waiting list has been drawn up and when and if anyone cancels an appointment,  people on the waiting list will be contacted to come in to fill that vacated time slot.

These informal meetings are not a requirement for grieving an assessment. Residents may still grieve their taxes before the Board of Assessment Review on June 16, 2009.  For information visit the town website’s page on “Assessment Grievance Procedure.” 

Push for revaluation

“We really have to move on revaluation, even if the county doesn’t,” said Superintendent Gerrard at the same meeting.  She told board members that she will speak to the supervisor of Mamaroneck, where revaluation efforts are “a little farther ahead.” 

The town is trying to walk a line. The greater the number of towns that participate in revaluation, the greater the “equal playing field” benefits of revaluation – and the less it costs, since the board believes the county may be able both to achieve economies of scale and to help finance the revaluation. 

If New Castle were to undertake its own revaluation, bringing properties to full market value as opposed to the assessed value that now appears on residents’ tax bills, it could cost around $200 per property, close to $1.3 million in total, and take two to three years to complete, according to Gerrard.  The New Castle Town Board, said Gerrard, does not want to get too far out front in this movement to revalue if, by waiting, more towns will sign on. The town board intends to write the county encouraging a county-wide revaluation.

From our archives: Appointments available for early, informal review of tax grievances, NewCastleNOW.org, 2/6/09

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