Legislator Vahl Concerned With Property Assessments
By The Post-Journal Staff editorial@post-journal.comMINA - All parcels at 100 percent of fair market value is an assessor's dream, County Legislature candidate Ron Vahl said recently.
Concerned with what he sees as unfair assessments and the results of "so-called comparables," Vahl said property owners' share of tax levies in Legislative District 21 and all of Chautauqua County are increasing as a result.
"At this point, property owners around our lakes are most-deeply affected, but eventually everybody's 'ox will be gored,'" Vahl said. "It will become a problem for all Chautauqua County taxpayers."
Vahl suggested that the county government look at what the California, Florida and Ontario, Canada are doing to protect long-time property owners from outrageous property tax increases. Vahl continued on to say that the has deep concerns regarding New York's complex assessment laws and their effect on long-time property taxpayers who might be forced to sell their properties.
"A good first step would be a countywide assessment at 100 percent of fair market value," Vahl said. "It should be done initially by out of the area assessors, as done 30 years ago by Cole, Layer & Trumbull. Then the county should oversee all investments."
According to Vahl, Sinclairville was first municipality in the county to use the Cole, Layer & Trumbull's assessments and virtually everyone was happy to learn what effect the new assessments had on their property taxes.
Vahl presently serves on the Mina Board of Assessment Review.
"If you have issues with your assessment, you should first talk with the town assessor and if that doesn't resolve it, make an appointment to attend the next town board of assessment review hearing - bringing with you the data the assessor will inform you that you should have. Should you not be satisfied, you should take it to small claims court. The squeaking wheel gets the grease if it's right."
Vahl is running for the County Legislature's District 21 seat in this November's election.
