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Some sour on Sodus assessments

About 1/3 of assessed properties went down, about 1/3 stayed somewhat the same and 1/3 went higher

KLW President, Robert Koszarek

Alas, the life of a town assessor can be full of pitfalls. Some of the down days come directly after property owners receive notice of their new assessments.

The Town of Sodus needed to desperately update property information. The last good look at properties, measuring of buildings, seeing who added on a pole barn, in-ground swimming pools, remodeled rooms and additions, came in 1976.

The Town Board, wishing to fairly assess their assessments decided to hire an outside company, the KLW Group, to canvass the 4758 properties within the town.

Hired after the Sodus Town Board advertised for real estate appraisers, consultants, and after several interviews, KLW was chosen. KLW won the day and would collect $200,000 for their efforts.

Why would the Town of Sodus hire outside firms to assess properties. “We wanted a new set of eyes. We wanted to ensure assessments were done in a fair and equitable manner, “ Said Sodus Town Supervisor Steve LeRoy.

Sodus is following a trend among towns throughout the State to hire professional companies to take over the daunting task of updating entire property assessments. Locally, the towns of Williamson and Huron have also hired outside appraising companies.

The company started perusing properties in the 3rd week of April, 2007. Property owners were made aware of the company and town plans well in advance through ads in local media and letters mailed to each and every property owner.

KLW President Robert Koszarek led crews of about a dozen full and part time employees that took a full inventory of the town, including the Villages of Sodus Point and Sodus.

Starting from scratch measurements were taken, and all properties were visited. Visual judgments were made when the crews were not allowed inside. About 19% of Sodus property owners asked the KLW visitors to do nothing. Still, recent sale properties within neighborhoods were compared and the data compiled.

Last Friday (2/29) the results of the assessment task were mailed to property owners. As per usual reassessments, about 1/3 of property assessments went up, about 1/3 stayed the same and 1/3 went down. In some cases, even when an assessment went up, the actual taxes on the property went down.

In this balancing act of assessments, supply and demand of properties affects outcomes. Sodus Point and waterfront property assessments went up, some considerably. Farmland, before agricultural exemptions, went up as well.

“It is important for people to realize that we (the town board) have nothing to do with the assessment process,” said LeRoy

Supervisor Steve LeRoy's property assessment on his home went up about 30%. Board member Bob DeBadts was hit with about a half million increase in assessments on his properties. Another Board member/farmer, Jerry Beckens' assessment was up about $400,000.

In all, the upset calls involved drastic changes, LeRoy recalled one that was upset their assessment went down.

He emphasized that an increase in an assessment does not always translate to an increase in taxes. The tax rate per $1,000 of assessed property is based upon the total assessment within the town.

The KLW Group will remain in town through the formal grievance period to defend their numbers to those who feel their assessment is out of whack.

“It is important for people to realize that this is the preliminary assessment,” said Koszarek. Property owners can meet informally with the assessing people from now through the first week of April by calling the Sodus Town Assessor's office at 483-6477. Formal written grievances must be submitted by no later than the end of the day on May 27th.