Editor, The Spotlight:
This week, we all received a letter from our town government informing us of our new real property tax assessments. A private, independent consultant was hired to do a complete, impartial assessment of all residential and commercial properties in town. The goal was to accurately reflect property values and provide a more equitable basis on which school, town and county taxes can be levied.
The results were interesting, if not alarming. Many residents saw significant increases in their assessments, which will be reflected in much higher taxes starting this fall unless successfully appealed. What is very disturbing is how the new tax rolls play favorites, rewarding incumbent office holders at the expense of nearly all of us citizens
In my circumstance, my assessment increased $25,600, amounting to an 8.3 percent increase.
This is in sharp contrast to nearly all of our six town-wide elected officeholders. Their assessment increases were: Supervisor Clarkson (0%), Councilman Reinhardt (0%), Councilwoman Dawson (0%), newly- elected Superintendent of Highways Meredith (0%), Councilman Kuhn (9%), and Councilwoman Sasso (3%). Does elective office give you the privilege of not paying your fair share? How do these assessments compare with yours?
At the very least, this begs the question, how fair was this reassessment? Is it a mere coincidence that those in power stand to benefit, while the rest of us pay the price? We all are willing to pay our fair share, but does this reassessment sound like it was fair?
Beyond that, the bigger question is how can people afford to live in a town that is perpetually raising taxes? In the past two years, town taxes alone increased 8 percent and 2 percent respectively, and for each of the next three years are projected to rise 2 percent, the maximum under the state tax cap 2 percent. With higher assessments and resulting tax increases, how is this going to impact your budget? And when is enough, enough? This is one more example of the deaf ear of our town board.
In past years, we’ve gotten good services for our tax dollars. One can hardly claim that this year, driving through town on our pothole riddled streets. You can’t even drive within the vicinity of town hall, without risking a blown tire or an accident avoiding potholes.
The answer “Our hands are tied, those are state roads” is hardly satisfactory or befitting the trust we placed in our elected officials. It’s unconscionable that we’re going to be hit with higher taxes as a result of this assessment, at a time that even basic town services aren’t being provided.
I encourage town resident to do their homework, contest their assessments and demand fair and reasonable treatment from town hall.
Fred Di Maggio
Chairman, Bethlehem Republican Committee