Some homeowners in the Town of Perinton say they want answers after several of them saw a large bump in their home assessments.
News10NBC connected with several neighbors through the Nextdoor App, neighbors like Gail Davis.
Davis says she was going through her mail on Wednesday when she opened up an assessment from the town, and she saw a significant spike. The assessed value of her one-story home went up $75,000 from $193,000 to $268,000. With it, could be an attached tax hike, something which she says, could make her family’s frugal living much tighter.
“We’re on fixed income, my husband is disabled, and it’s hard enough to make all the bills as it is now,” Davis said.
Perinton native Sandra Fitsimmons shared her estimate, which went up by $70,100 from $212,300 to $282,400, and nearby, Joseph
Organisciak showed his assessment increased $48,900 from $185,000 to $233,900.
So, we reached out to the town, and Supervisor Ciaran Hanna was not available to talk on camera, though he sent us this statement:
“New York State encourages each Town to assess at 100% of the current market value of a home. With increasing property values across the area, a town-wide reassessment ensures town taxes are levied in a fair and equitable way – property owners only pay their fair share. However, property owners often confuse property taxes and assessments. If an assessment goes up by the 2020 median increase of 10.9%, it does not mean their taxes will go up 10.9%. The town tax rate is generated in the budget process, which is completed at the end of the year. Through the Town’s fiscal responsibility and strict budget principles, Perinton has maintained one of the lowest tax rates in Monroe County. We certainly look to continue this trend.”
“For any homeowner that feels his or her home has been assessed unfairly the option to challenge that assessment is available. Details for that process are available on the town website.”
News10NBC followed a similar story in the Town of Gates last month.
Even with the future unknown, Davis says she loves living in the town, and loves her home.
“We hope to stay, we do not want to move,” Davis said.
Town residents can dispute their assessments, either through a formal written complaint or, on the town’s “grievance day” which is
Tuesday, May 26. Davis and the neighbors we spoke with say they will plan to file a grievance.
Published by WHEC-TV
