Tyler Technologies Provides Update on Real Estate Tax Revaluation

Representatives from Tyler Technologies updated the Scarsdale Village Board and residents on their progress on the reassessment process at a January 16 meeting. Having completed the first residential property inspections, Tyler Technologies will soon be sending "data mailers" to each homeowner. The detailed "property description reports" will include information that the inspectors gathered in their visits related to both the exterior and interior of each residence in addition to measures such as square footage of living space, quality of maintenance, and extent of cooling and heating systems throughout the home.

Much of the outcome of this process depends on residents reading and responding to these mailers. Residents are urged to take a few moments to look them over. If the information seems accurate, residents need only to maintain the document for their personal records. However, if homeowners would like to correct perceived inaccuracies, gather more information about the process, or request an additional (or first) inspection they must reply to the mailer by February 4. Without a response, the firm will assume that homeowners are satisfied with the accuracy of the report. Edgewood residents will be the first to receive such mailers. Next will be Fox Meadow, Heathcote, Quaker Ridge, and finally Greenacres. There is still time to schedule interior visits.

While the associates at Tyler Technologies will try to satisfy such requests, homeowners must reply by February 4 to receive any remedies. Also, if a calculation of number of bathrooms or living square footage seems inaccurate, Eric Hardy from Tyler says that the numbers may appear to be incorrect because they are reported in a different form than typical realtors' estimations. The data collectors follow a statewide protocol, which is available on their website and on the Internet. Residents should contact the firm if the values differ by a significant factor. They will be happy to come back or set up one-on-one meetings with homeowners to assure fairness and accuracy.

Hardy explained that the process "is going very well" and overall people have been satisfied with the professionalism and performance of the data collectors, all of whom carry identification cards and are registered with the Scarsdale Police Department. There are still many homes that need to be visited and it is in the homeowner's interest to allow the data collectors inside the home so they can accurately gauge the interior of the home. Otherwise, they may assume things about the home that add value – for instance, a finished basement – but are not actually present in the home.

Given the intense budget pressures consuming national politics and increasing tax rates in Scarsdale (see http://scarsdale10583.com/201212302942/village-voices/county-taxes-to-increase-6.33-for-scarsdale-residents.html), the idea of tax revaluation may be unwelcome to many residents. However, this process is long overdue in Scarsdale. While Scarsdale has not revalued homes since 1969 (see http://scarsdale10583.com/201207052567/village-voices/tax-reassessment-in-process-what-it-will-mean-for-you.html), some municipalities require revaluation every few years because the real estate market can fluctuate dramatically in a short amount of time and most homeowners tend to add value to their homes. In fact, revaluing is so common that major news networks and media sources have issued advice on the matter and list it as an effective way for people to ensure they are paying their fair share of taxes.

Generally, after the revaluation a third of the homes increase in value, a third decrease and a third remain approximately the same. Residents also need to be aware that appealing their assessment does not mean they are appealing their tax rate, only the basis upon which they will be taxed. All data collection is scheduled to be finished by May.  The new assessments resulting from this revaluation will be implemented on June 1, 2014, which will first impact taxes on April 1, 2015. Before this, however, residents will be able to see the data collected from all homes in Scarsdale online and in paper at several locations throughout the Village. Mr. Hardy would caution residents not to take comparisons between homes as a deciding factor of fairness. "No two houses are exactly alike," he said, which can result in differing property assessments.

For residents, the most important thing will be to read over the "property description report" and respond to it accordingly. Remember, a non-response to this mailer signifies satisfaction with the results.

This article was contributed by Sarah Benowich. Now a senior at Cornell University, Benowich was a former editor of the Maroon in Scarsdale.