By CHRISSY PRICHARD

Express News Staff

The Town of Webb Assessor, Jean Murdock, reports that the Final Assessment Roll for the approximately 6,200 parcels in the Town of Webb is nearly complete and is set to be filed on July 1.

Throughout the two-year process the Assessor’s Office and the KLW Group of Rochester have worked together on this project, which is intended to equalize assessed property values and actual market values. Johnathan Lack of the NYS Office of Real Property Services also had oversight of the project.

During the process, the assessor’s office has made efforts to address property owner’s concerns as they arose and to gave property owners opportunities to participate in the process.

In June, 2011, property description reports were sent to all property owners listing the physical details of their property. Property owners were asked at this time to verify all information for accuracy, and were informed that this information would be used to determine their tentative assessments.

Assessment disclosure notices containing preliminary assessment figures were sent to property owners on March 1 of this year. At this point, property owners were given the option to have an informal hearing with Murdock or a representative of the KLW Group. Around 300 property owners took this opportunity to have their concerns addressed so any necessary changes could be made before the tentative roll came out.

After the tentative roll was issued on May 1, property owners who felt they had been unfairly assessed could participate in the formal grievance process. After submitting the proper requests, about 300 more property owners took part in the grievance process, which is overseen by the Board of Assessment Review (BAR). The grievance period came to a close on May 22, to allow the BAR time to make their determinations about anymore changes that would need to be applied before the final roll is issued on July 1.

These opportunities to address issues, make changes and correct errors is an important part of the process, and is put in place to ensure that the assessments are done fairly and that property owners remain informed every step of the way. Murdock, as well as Town of Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle, are confident that the outcome has been a fair and equitable assessment.

Since the grievance period is over and the Assessor’s Office can no longer address further concerns, approximately 100 property owners that remain dissatisfied with their assessments have sent an informal petition to the Town of Webb Board asking the board to reject the proposed assessment roll.

The assessment roll, however, remains the sole responsibility of the assessor, and the Town Board does not have the authority to reject the assessment roll, nor are they required to accept it.

“My understanding of the law is that although the assessor is appointed by the town, they have the sole responsibility to generate the tax roll. The board cannot throw it out if they don’t agree with it,” says Riehle. “The intention of this is that the assessor can do a fair and equitable job without the board dictating how it’s done.”

Some people remember the town board requesting a rejection of the reassessment that was completed in 2008, but this was only a request, not a legal requirement. According to Murdock, the decision to reject the reassessment at that time was made by the assessor, James Fresco, and the Herkimer County Real Property Director Mary Ann Barbuto. Murdock says that they made the decision they felt was appropriate at the time, but doesn’t see any reason to reject the current assessment roll, nor does she anticipate that the board will ask her to.

“I know the town board right now supports the revaluation. At this point, it would take an act of the NYS Legislature to throw it out, since the tentative roll has been issued,” says Murdock.

She says those that feel strongly that it’s worth their time and effort can fight their assessments in small claims court.

Although some property owners still remain dissatisfied, Riehle believes the assessment was done fairly and properly. “Real property tax law is complicated, and whether you agree with it or not, the important point is that it was done the way it was supposed to be done,” said Riehle. “I think, overall with this reval, they’ve done a good job with it.”