HOW TO USE THIS SITE

WHO IS THE ASSESSOR

The assessor is the official appointed by the Town Board to manage the functions of the assessment office. The assessor’s term of office is six years, and the appointee must obtain and retain state certification. The main function of the assessor is to estimate the value of real property within the Town’s borders. This value is converted into an assessment, which is one component in the computation of property tax bills.

The assessor maintains the assessment roll – the document that contains every property’s assessment. The physical description or inventory, exemption information, and value estimate of every piece of real estate in the municipality is kept up-to-date. The information contained on this site is taken from the 2010 Final Assessment Roll, filed on July 1st, 2010.  The assessment roll may be reviewed on-line or at Town Hall by appointment before the filing of the tentative assessment roll (May 1^st each year). The only changes that can be made after the filing of the tentative assessment roll are through the formal grievance process with the Board of Assessment Review. After the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) has acted on assessment complaints and ordered changes, the tentative roll is made final (July 1^st each year).

Assessors are interested only in fairly assessing property in their assessing unit. If your assessment seems correct but your tax bill still seems too high, the assessor cannot change that. Complaints to the assessor or the Board of Assessment Review must be about how the property is assessed. Complaints about high taxes should go directly to the taxing jurisdictions, such as the town or village board, school board or county legislature, who set the tax rates. The assessor does not set tax rates.  For a link to current tax rates as set by your taxing jurisdictions, please click here.

WHAT KIND OF PROPERTY IS ASSESSED

All real property, commonly known as real estate, is assessed. Real property is defined as land and any permanent structures attached to it. Some examples of real property are houses, commercial buildings, vacant land, farms, etc.

HOW IS REAL PROPERTY ASSESSED

Before assessing any parcel of property, the assessor estimates the percentage of value at which all properties will be uniformly appraised. New York State law provides that all property within a municipality be assessed at a uniform percentage of market value. The Town of Porter uses a uniform percentage of 93% for 2010. The selling prices of homes has continued to increase faster than the assessments.  The ratio between assessed value and selling prices is what the State of New York uses to determine the uniform percent of value and the equalization rate.  There has been a lot of media coverage over the downturn in the real estate market, but we have not really seen this trend apply to our local market.  In fact, homes continue to sell consistently above the current assessed value.  On our counter at Town Hall, we maintain a book of all valid, usable sales that have occured over the last two years.  We welcome you to stop by and review the book anytime.

2. Cost approach: Calculate what the property would cost, using today’s labor and material prices, to compare a structure with a similar one. This method is used to value special purpose and utility properties.

THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS

When it becomes necessary to change assessments in order to maintain 100% of market value, all property owners will receive a notice in March which includes:

• New preliminary assessed value
• Information on arranging an informal review of your assessment with assessment staff
• Important dates in the assessment cycle

RESOURCES AVAILABLE

1. Reports: Residential sales and property inventories will be published and available for inspection during our normal office hours.

2. Internet Access: The assessment roll will be on the Internet.

§ Verify property information

§ Review inventory data on an individual property

§ Review current sales information

§ Analyze sales information about similar properties

3. Assessment Information Classes: Classes are held during a reassessment activity, and provide the proper information regarding the comparison process that taxpayers need to determine whether their assessment is fair.  There will also be information on the process of challenging your assessment. Dates of such classes are noticed in local newspapers.

TIPS ON THE COMPARISON PROCESS

In comparing properties to yours, it is important to remember that location, style, age and size are critical to the comparison process. You should review sales of similar homes in the same general area and of similar size, and make your adjustments from the sale price of that home. Waterfront properties should be compared with other waterfront properties. If you are comparing other assessments of properties that have not sold, don’t forget to check the data and make the necessary adjustments. BE REALISTIC AND HONEST.

The search engine that provides you with comparable on this website are only a tool, and may not be the same comparables that were used in your final value estimate. This is because your estimate was arrived at after careful review of all available comparables and a field review of the exterior of every property. Some of the sales you may find through other assessment sites on the internet may not be valid, arms’ length sales, so be sure that the sales you are using are true market value sales, and not foreclosures, etc.

If you have recently purchased a property in Porter, and if the sale was a true market sale, you can expect your new assessment to be the same as your purchase price. We often hear “Well, I just paid too much”, or “But we really wanted the house and they wouldn’t take less”, but the fact remains that there was a willing seller and a willing buyer, and thus the sale is market value. Assessments are changed-based on sales-only during the year of a town-wide reassessment. Changes that occur between reassessments are usually for changes to the physicality of the property (additions-remodels-tear-downs-natural damges such as fires or floods etc.)

INFORMAL REVIEW PROCESS

IMPORTANT DATES IN THE ASSESSMENT CYCLE

March 1st: Taxable Status Date (the deadline for all exemption applications and the completion date for building permits)

May 1st: Tentative Assessment Roll is filed

4^th Tuesday in May: Grievance Day (Board of Assessment Review meets to hear all complaints regarding assessments)

July 1st: Final Assessment Roll is filed

October 1^st – March 1^st: Exemption Application Period

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE STAR EXEMPTION

Those residents who have already signed up for automatic renewal will receive a post card from us later in the fall, confirming your eligibility for 2011 IF YOU RECEIVE A POST CARD CONFIRMING YOUR ELIGIBILITY, YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO ANYTHING TO CONTINUE RECEIVING YOUR EXEMPTION. If you did not sign up for automatic renewal, you will receive a renewal form and filing information in the fall. WE WILL SEND YOU THE CORRECT FORM FOR THE PROGRAM YOU ARE IN.