A grievous affair

Townspeople tackle their assessments at Highland’s Grievance Day

By SANDY LONG

ELDRED, NY — There are differences of opinion about the causes behind the problem, but everyone seems to agree on one thing: tax assessments in the Town of Highland are a grievous affair.

“Every year, I have to come in and fight,” said one man, while others complained of a myriad of issues, such as the town’s 100 percent assessment rate, inaccuracies in data collection and the comparison of market values that reflect earlier real estate booms in stark contrast to the collapsing local market.

Highland property owner Charles Petersheim arrived by 7:15 a.m. at the town hall to obtain a number and wait his turn. With number 11 in his fist, Petersheim was still waiting to be heard at 10:30 a.m. Around him sat more than 75 other townspeople doing the same thing. If not heard during the morning session, which concluded at 12:00 noon, they would need to return for the evening session from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. If still not called, they would have to return on another day that has yet to be scheduled.

It’s a frustrating process, but an improvement over last year’s event, which continued until 4:00 a.m. Ideally, those with complaints should schedule appointments in advance with tax assessor Lorry King. But King’s limited weekly in-office hours don’t go a long way in meeting the needs of the citizens, some complained.

It’s just one of many items on a list of objections raised around the issue of assessments. Petersheim questioned whether it is realistic for one person to accurately assess the town’s 2,700 parcels. “If you do the math, it’s practically impossible,” he said.

Attorney Andy Boyar, a resident of Eldred, said that if the current system was working properly, there would be no need to assess the town’s 2,700 parcels. Boyar likens the situation to the sinking of the Titanic—a looming disaster calling for immediate attention. A former chairman of the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors and supervisor of the Town of Highland for 13 years, Boyar has called for an overhaul of the current system. “The system designed for the state doesn’t work under current market conditions,” he said. “The two-year-old data is devastating when the market is in freefall.”

Boyar wants the state to develop a team of people to meet with the assessor, town supervisor and other interested parties to identify possible solutions. “The state is stonewalling,” he said. “It’s easier to defend a broken system than to create a new one. The state must correct the mess they helped to create in Highland.”

Town supervisor Tina Palecek has been tackling the issue from a variety of angles and plans to keep doing so. “People shouldn’t have to grieve their assessments in order for them to be fair,” said Palecek. “We just want our assessments to reflect the market value of our homes.”

Yulan resident John Frank isn’t waiting around for changes to occur. Frank has successfully fought his assessment increases for several years and has become skilled by doing so. When he realized that many senior citizens lack an understanding of how the process works, and therefore simply suffer the sometimes crippling increases, he began offering to help. “It’s a difficult process for the average person,” said Frank, who estimates that he has spent 70 hours over the past two weeks conducting research for fellow citizens.

In 2006, Frank helped one citizen to get his assessment reduced from $444,000 to $241,000, only to see it increase again to $352,000 in 2007.

Frank said that another part of the problem might relate to computer-generated errors. One of four identical lots owned by Frank was assessed at $70,000 more than the others, necessitating an appointment with the assessor to clear up the inconsistency. It’s frustrating and time-consuming, but also necessary. Frank estimates that he has helped approximately 18 citizens to save more than a half-million dollars in assessments. And while he’s glad to do so, he wants to see appropriate changes made. “It shouldn’t have to be like this,” Frank said.

In the most desperate evidence of community discontent, a group of citizens has begun calling for dismissal of the 2008 assessment roll.