The major discussion at the Monday afternoon meeting concerned the full reassessment of the 44,000 parcels in Amherst. Out of the forty-four thousand buildings, ten thousand are commercial, the rest are private homes.
The Assessor sent out letters to sixty-seven assessment companies asking if they would like to bid on doing the full reassessment in Amherst. The town received a single response. That company submitted a bid of $590,000 to do the assessment. The other companies felt there wasn’t enough time to do this job as the state wanted it done.
This responding company is made up mainly of part time workers who would do the work in the evenings after dark, on weekends and Sundays. They will drive by your home to assess it, mostly during night time. “Drive by” assessments means what it sounds like. The part timer workers will drive by your home and determine its assessed evaluation. Most assessments will be done in this manner, which will make it easier to fight to change your home’s assessment.
At the next Town Board meeting, August 6th, the Town Board will question the company representatives. The public will also be allowed to ask questions. This company has several issues which are unacceptable to the Town Board. Before the Board approves them the issues must be ironed out.
Council Member Shelly Schratz questioned the cause for the tough situation Amherst has found itself in. She realizes the problem was created by the Town Supervisor’s interference in the Assessment Department. Dr. Mohan originally said he had a different way to do the assessment. He didn’t know his “different way” was unacceptable since the State has mandates which must be followed.
Mohan’s stalling caused the Town Assessor to wait on his word to begin the correct method to do the assessments. The Supervisor’s interference is the reason the assessment problem occurred. Shelly’s vain effort to pass the blame off on others instead of placing it squarely on the shoulders of the Supervisor was nauseating to watch.
Afterward I asked Council member Schatz if she understood who caused this mess. Her reply was,”Yes, the Supervisor, but now we have to try to solve it.” Shelly was angry it’s going to cost more money then it should. She said, “The people of Amherst don’t need more wasted tax money, thrown away because of the lack of knowledge on the Supervisor’s part.”
Supervisor Mohan told the Town Board and the public months ago he was going to get a company to do our assessment for 5 dollars per parcel. This would only have cost the Town about $220,000. Mohan wouldn’t reveal the name of the company to anyone, though many asked. When it came time to put up or shut up, he shut up.
The only company who’s offering to do the assessment now wants $590,000. This is roughly 3 times as much as the company Dr. Mohan failed to find.
What will happen if the Town Board doesn’t approve this company? Your guess is as good as mine.