CASE EXAMPLES

I represented five town of Manlius tax payers for last years property tax BAR and SCAR hearings. I secured reductions in 5 out of 6 cases. I wanted to make the town board aware of the disingenuous, abusive and unprofessional behavior of your Assessor I observed in those cases.

The job of the Assessor is the equitable distribution of tax burden, though it is clear he could care less about it. He has not responded to FOIL requests properly and is subjecting the town to risk of lawsuits as a result. He is rude and dismissive to taxpayers. He doesn't return phone calls. He doesn't seem to realize that taxpayers are customers and should be treated as such. He has developed a checklist of technicalities to try to have SCAR cases dismissed forcing the tax payers to take their case to State Supreme Court. As an example...One of my clients was in his 70s.....and your Assessor tried to get his case dismissed because his petition reached the County Clerk one day late during a pandemic. He should be fired for that alone. That's no way to treat a tax payer who has paid his taxes for 30 plus years. SCAR is a State program designed to give people an inexpensive appeal process that doesn't require a lawyer. Well, if a taxpayer has a hearing with your Assessor....they better have a lawyer or someone like me or their case will likely be dismissed. It is just plain wrong.

The state pays hearing officers $75 to handle the case. The Assessor tries to have the cases dismissed for petty reasons such as sending copies of petitions to the wrong address, etc. Forcing people to hire a lawyer. If they do they incur that cost but also the town has to pay their lawyer.....but far more than that the State judge is paid over $200,000 a year, the judges clerk typically makes $150k or more, Paralegal, $75k or more, stenographer $75k or more...Bailiff $75k plus cost of the courtroom, etc. etc. This means a case that could have cost $75 costs $10,000 to $20,000....or more...and can take years. Tying up courts that are already backlogged. In many cases Supreme Court Judges have little experience in real estate valuation. Whereas a SCAR hearing officer is there because they do have real estate valuation experience. This behavior has to stop. Your Assessor needs to be retrained or removed.

I have conducted hearings with dozens of Assessors. Yours is in the top 3 of the most abusive I have observed. I recognize he has ~ 14,000 to value. It is a difficult job. He needs to be a professional and do it properly. Treat taxpayers like customers. If he does......there will be no reason for me to represent people in your town. Tax season is coming up. If he continues to abuse people.....I'll be there to stop him. If he continues his practice of using technicalities to force dismissals sending people to Supreme Court.....and the town board and Supervisor condone the behavior......... I suggest the town put more money in their budget for legal fees.