VOTE FOR FULL-TIME ASSESSOR
COMES UP SHORT
Motion Voted Down By 3-2 Count
By Jim Gill (09/05/2008)

Many communities have expressed anger pertaining to assessments, citizens have changed town boards, threatened class action law suits, replaced assessors, all due to what they felt were unjust assessments in their communities. Many times the responsibility rests with town boards, by not taking a more serious approach to assessments they fail the people that elected them to office. Considering the amount of money involved and the hardship that can be placed on residents, has the time come “to raise the bar” on the way assessments are handled in our communities?

Fueled by a 58% increase in taxes over the past three years, in 2007 taxpayers in Ellicottville showed their discontent through their votes, electing a new town supervisor and one new member to the town board. Both full and part time residents wanted the bar raised to a more efficient, responsive program along with balanced assessments. A committee working behind the scenes neglecting the “there is nothing we can do” attitude came up with a number of recommendations that were presented to the board members on October 23, 2007.
One of the main recommendations included the need for a job description to include goals, policies and expectations for the assessor position along with investigating the need for a full time assessor. Recommendations for a full time assessor stemmed from the need to bring in an appraisal firm unfamiliar with the area to assist the assessor’s office ever year. This not only created more problems in some areas, it also took the cost of annual assessments from the $27,000 being paid to the assessor upwards to $50,000 per year. The committee felt that not only could the community be served better with a full time assessor whom lives in and knows the area, it could also provide a cost saving.

The situation in 2008 hadn’t improved, if anything things seemed to get worse as a very high number of taxpayers appealed their assessments that had been raised in a declining housing market. Many people had no idea on how to prepare for the appeal process, telephone calls to the assessor’s office went unanswered, some people whom did get through negotiated with the assessor over the telephone. Most of the part-time residents couldn’t take the time to return for the appeal process and had to accept their assessments. Many residents expressed disappointment with the system, for the high amount of taxes being paid they expected the process to operate at a more efficient and professional level.

During a recent Town Board meeting most, if not all board members agreed that the system is broken and something should be done. Ellicottville is one of four communities the assessor handles annually raising the question on whether or not she has enough time to conduct proper assessments and the town having to hire an appraisal firm to assist her office.

During last weeks monthly Town Board meeting a motion was placed before the board by Ken Hinman to have a full time assessor for Ellicottville, seconded by Town Supervisor John Burrell. This has been a topic of discussion for some time with board members and the town attorney, and for many residents it appeared to be a step in the right direction. However, when the board voted on the motion it was turned down by a vote of 3-2 with Burrell and Hinman voting in favor. The decision has left many residents in the community upset; they voted for change and felt the members whom voted against the motion have failed to serve the people.

Apparently there is some discussion on hiring an assistant or supervisor for the assessor, as one resident commented “they’re admitting the current assessor can’t do the job properly and rather than correct matters they’re placing a Band-Aid on it with more expense to the taxpayers”.

Comments:
Unless a vote is unanimous there are reasons why some vote in favor of an action and some vote against. This writer has spoken with some of the taxpayers gathering opinions on the board’s decision, before publishing any further comments the intent is to visit with each member of the board to find out how they voted and the reasons behind their decision.