Do a re-val now

Letter to the Editor,

Attention Pulteney tax payer residents: I was just wondering if you liked your tax increase last year on the town and school tax bill? According to the state, our taxes went up another 10% last year, That's an increase of 25% in the past two years. Our town board refuses to do a re-val and because of this we're getting penalized by New York State and will get another 12% or more again this coming year on top of whatever you paid last year. This means our equalization rate is going from 58% to 45% this coming year. And will decline every year until a re-val is done. Our town has not done one in 14 years. Every township around us has. I understand that some people are afraid they will find something they built without a permit and don't want a re-val. Well to inform you, at the March town meeting a $12,000 budget passed for the town Assessor and two other parties to go ahead with what they call data collection, which is to go out and completey re-assess everybody's land. Which will be added to the tax levy. Which will be completed in about a year. So why don't we stop hiding our heads and just demand a re-val now. Instead of paying just the taxes, paying the penalty also and continuing to do every year until the re-val is done. Our increase in our taxes is only a little bit compared to the fine we have to pay. Because our town board will not do a re-val. It doesn't make any sense to me why taxpayers don't speak up about this. The way everything is going up. Please speak up, contact your Assessor, NYS tax office and our Town Board and let them know how you feel and put this madness to a stop. You can contact Donna Hatch Steuben Co. real property, Gerald Pieklo, State Office of Real Property tax service 585-343-4363, ask for yourself. Also there is a website www.orps.state.ny.us. Don't let this go on, it should be fair for all taxpayers not a few.

Sherri Ballam Pulteney