To the Editor,
In January 2016, the town board of the town of Rye established the Task Force on Assessment Practices and Procedures (the Task Force) to undertake a review of the assessment functions of the town of Rye and to make findings and recommendations to the town board regarding how its approximately 11,000 parcels are managed.
The Task Force acknowledges that the public is not well versed in the assessment process. It is also aware that when property owners receive their preliminary assessment notices in early June, they do not have enough sufficient time to react before Grievance Day (third Tuesday in June this year, June 20).
One of the goals of the Task Force is to inform property owners as to the important dates of the assessment process. The 2017 tentative assessments was posted on the town of Rye website on June 1 at townofryeny.com (look under “Assessment Roll & Property Data Search” on the home page) and will also be mailed to owners. The assessment is based on the July 1, 2016 value of the property and represents its fair market value. The assessment, which is recalculated annually, is determined by looking at comparable sales of homes in your neighborhood during the past year.
Information and instructions on how to appeal (if you think your assessment is too high based on recent sales of comparable properties) and the forms needed to be submitted to the town of Rye Board of Assessment Review by June 20, 2017 can be found on the state’s website at tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/orpts/grievancebooklet.pdf.
The June 20 deadline to appeal the tentative assessment is fixed by law and cannot be extended.
The Task Force members:
Daniel D. Tartaglia, chair, Rye Brook
Joan Feinstein, Rye Brook
Richard Cuddy, Port Chester
Randi Robinowitz, Rye Neck
Marcia Rogull, Rye Brook
