Assessor's Office

The assessor is a local government official who estimates the value of real property within the city's boundaries. This value is converted into an assessment, which is one component in the computation of real property tax bills. The assessor must be New York State certified, and complete continuing education annually to retain their designation.

Before assessing any parcel of property, the assessor attains inventory of the parcel. This is done through a physical inspection of the property. The assessor estimates market value through three approaches of value: market, cost, and income.

The assessor performs many other administrative functions, such as approving and maintaining property tax exemptions. Among the most common, are the Senior Citizen, STAR, Veteran, and Business exemptions. The assessor reviews every transfer of real property for accuracy, including the basic information on the buyer, seller and sale price. All subdivisions and lot-line changes are completed by the assessor.

The assessor is continually communicating with the public, answering questions and dealing with concerns raised by taxpayers.