Hyde Park leaders are mulling the idea of conducting a town-wide property revaluation to better equalize property assessments.
Timothy McGowan, Hyde Park’s tax assessor, was on hand at this week’s Town Board workshop to discuss the revaluation process. According to McGowan, it would cost the town approximately $36 per parcel to inspect and value the 7,759 parcels existing within Hyde Park. McGowan explained that the data gathering process of revaluation typically begins in May and runs through September, so a decision would need to be made soon if a revaluation is to take place this year.
Supervisor Pompey Delafield (D) noted that the April 14 workshop discussion was only the second conversation to take place regarding a potential revaluation and that no decisions have been made at this time. “Right now we’re just talking about it,” said Delafield.
Local taxpayers may be reluctant to embrace the prospect of revaluation based on recent experiences in surrounding communities. Reassessments in neighboring towns resulted in numerous complaints directed toward the property assessment consulting firm, MJW Consulting, based in Queens. State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R-Tivoli) has requested a state review of MJW’s methodologies, such as data collection, assessment and management practices that resulted in the tripling of some property owner’s assessments.
Municipalities including LaGrange, Beekman, East Fishkill, North East and Fishkill have all terminated their contracts with MJW. Delafield acknowledged that other towns have experienced challenges with their revaluations. “It’s been done in a number of communities around town and was done very poorly,” he said.
According to information released at the meeting by the New York State Office of Real Property Services (ORPS), reassessment does not necessarily result in increased taxes for the property owner. Revaluations, according to ORPS, produce equity and eliminate unfair assessments, distributing the tax burden more equally within the community. According to ORPS, Hyde Park last updated its revaluation in 1994. Hyde Park’s equalization rate is approximately 45 percent; a 100 percent equalization rate will allow the town to become eligible for more state aid. The town would also receive $5 per parcel from New York State for completing the project.
Delafield said he sees two challenges to implementing a revaluation this year: there’s no money in this year’s budget for the project, and there may be resistance from taxpayers. “We need to build confidence by informing taxpayers,” said Delafield. A common misconception among property owners is that revaluations automatically result in tax increases. “People need to understand what reassessment is – reassessment does not increase taxes,” he noted. If a property is under-evaluated compared to a neighbor’s property, there is a likelihood of property tax increase, he added.
Property maintenance law
The board continued to fine-tune wording in the proposed property maintenance law, which will give the town more ability to address poorly maintained properties and derelict vehicles. Words that may seem ambiguous, such as “unsightly,” were removed from the law’s draft and a lengthy discussion ensued regarding whether or not garbage receptacles should be required. “I don’t want to over-write this thing,” said Delafield, as Councilman Richard Perkins (I-4th Ward) voiced his opinion that garbage containers be required. Perkins explained that bagged garbage stored outdoors often gets disturbed by animals and rodents, resulting in garbage being strewn around lawns. “This is a problem I’ve been dealing with for a number of years,” said Perkins.
Board members are hopeful that the maintenance law, once approved, will reduce blight and encourage taxpayers to take more pride in their properties. “If it gets people thinking about their property, it (the law) will be wonderful for Hyde Park,” said Delafield.
Bad news for police department
The New York State Department of Labor has served the town with a Notice of Violation and Order to Comply following an inspection conducted on Jan. 17 at the police headquarters on Route 9G that revealed sanitary and health issues including unacceptable levels of mold. According to Delafield, testing and repairs required by the state amount to $9,360, which is not currently in the town’s budget. The police department leases the building in the Town of Hyde Park and town leaders will be talking to the landlord to see if some of the repair costs can be shared.
“This brings back to mind the dire straights our police are in,” said Delafield, who also announced that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Hudson) has submitted an appropriation request of $4,500,000 with the federal government for a police/court facility. “Obviously she recognizes the need we have for a police department in town,” said Delafield.