Tax Revolt?

South of 5 and 20 alerts us to some unusual happening in upstate New York.

Reacting to staggering increases in their real estate assessments, an estimated 150 unhappy South Seneca taxpayers jammed the Ovid fire hall last night. Organized on the fly by a couple of local residents, a grass roots movement appears to have been launched in only a few weeks.

Attendees raised two basic concerns. First, the disconnect between a collapsing real estate market and skyrocketing tax assessments. Second, seemingly incomprehensible inequities between the assessments of local properties.

At this very local level, its apparent that residents know more about various South Seneca properties than the tax assessor does. The 2011 tax assessment was made with few or no actual visits to individual parcels, which has resulted in outrage felt by some of the affected residents. The local tax assessor was not in attendance, probably for good reason.

South Seneca elected officials should prepare for these rebels to jam every town board meeting from now on, and no doubt field their own candidates in upcoming elections.

Fascinating, but not surprising, today I come across this at the Capital Business Blog

For those individuals still fighting against a property tax cap, here is something to consider: In a comparison of property taxes as a percentage of home value from 2007-2009, 15 counties in New York State top the list. Out of the highest taxed 25 counties, 22 are located in New York, and approximately one out of every three counties on the “top 100″ list is located in our state. (emphasis mine)

The full article is found here.

The full report from the Tax Foundation is here.

For more information on this issue and to join the fight for a property tax cap visit Tax Cap Now.

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