Post by Dan Cummings - If it's not too late (and it shouldn't be)...you should take the time to review the assessment on your home, and if you think it's too high...call your assessor and schedule an informal review.  For several years now, Newschannel 9 has provided some in-depth coverage at this time of year on assessments.   My reporting on this topic THIS year showed me that more than ever, the assessors seem to be listening.   One example:  by Wednesday afternoon, in Fulton, the assessors had done just under 200 informal reviews with homeowners.  Fewer than 10 of those 200 people went on to file a grievance.  That means that during the informal, almost all of them were given a break in their assessment.  All of those people were able to convince the assessor that the proposed new value of their home was too high.  In some cases, the reductions granted at the informals were significant.  (Of course, that raises the question:  why was the new assessment set so high in the first place ?  And, you should ask your assessor THAT question, too...if it applies).
 
I heard similar stories coming out of Salina and Onondaga.  If you can make the case that recent sales of homes comparable to yours in your neighborhood are at prices significantly lower than the assessed value of YOUR home, you can talk the assessor down.  It's an inexact science, this business of assessment...but the bottom line is this:  the assessed value should be very close to what you could get for the house right now, if you put it on the market.  
 
Even if you didn't get one of those "change notices" or "impact letters" from your town or city this spring, now is the time to review your assessment.  Grievances in most municipalities must be concluded by late May or early June, and the new tax roll is set in stone by July 1-st.  (That's for the towns.  The city of Syracuse and some other municipalities work on different schedules).

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