Amherst Times

The topic of assessments has been a ‘Hot Topic’ for years here in Amherst.  Last week County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz released a report on the topic.  In it he stated:

… in Erie County’s 30 local assessing units, there are 39 chief assessing officials and 130 budgeted positions working in assessing roles at a cost to local taxpayers of $6.5 million annually (not including fringe benefits).  Using various data, the Comptroller’s report determined that a potential County expense for countywide assessment utilizing an outside vendor could be as little as $3.1 million, with significant annual, recurring and one-time savings and state aid inducements available to local governments and to Erie County.  Depending on the number of employees retained in a countywide assessment unit, potential annual savings to local taxpayers could be as high as $3.9 million, not including State aid and incentives. 

The savings to taxpayers of $3.9 million in this region is massive. 

…in Erie County’s 30 local assessing units, there are 39 chief assessing officials and 130 budgeted positions working in assessing roles at a cost to local taxpayers of $6.5 million annually (not including fringe benefits). Using various data, the Comptroller’s report determined that a potential County expense for countywide assessment utilizing an outside vendor could be as little as $3.1 million, with significant annual, recurring and one-time savings and state aid inducements available to local governments and to Erie County. Depending on the number of employees retained in a countywide assessment unit, potential annual savings to local taxpayers could be as high as $3.9 million, not including State aid and incentives.

The savings to taxpayers of $3.9 million in this region is massive.

He added, we should implement this forthwith.