Busy, Busy, Busy...

A few days ago, Newsday announced my election to the Garden City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. My phone has been ringing off the hook with congratulations. Aside from the congratulatory wishes, I have also been getting calls from my clients.

Nassau clients are asking if their taxes are being reduced as a result of our January protest filing. Unfortunately, it is too soon to tell. Suffolk clients are asking if I can lower their taxes by the May 18, 2010 grievance filing deadline. Unfortunately, we cannot lower the taxes before the filing deadline because we have to give Suffolk Assessors a chance to review the grievance applications. Suffolk assessments have stayed fairly consistent, despite numerous foreclosures. Against all common sense, many of the Southampton assessments have been greatly increased.

Luckily, I have a great staff working full throttle during this busy tax system to meet everyone’s needs. The only thing more I can ask for is the weather to hold out for golf this weekend.

Suffolk County Property Tax Assessments Mailing

Watch out for a plain looking correspondence from your Suffolk town assessor. Do not throw it away. It is a potential missive of higher taxes. The letter might even describe a lower real estate assessment. A lower tax assessment does not necessarily mean lower taxes; it more likely means higher tax rates. Similar to Nassau each school district and special district has its own special tax rate. Therefore, everyone in Huntington does not pay on the same tax rate. Where Southampton town did a revaluation a few years ago the town of Babylon has not done a revaluation in decades. The bottom line is you won’t know your bottom line until the tax bills arrive in December and then it will be too late to complain.