Essex County wary of adopting state equalization data and any strings that go with them

By KIM SMITH DEDAM

ELIZABETHTOWN -- Essex County supervisors took issue this week with the state's property-value equalization formula.

The Ways and Means Committee became mired in a discussion about whether to accept some $25,000 in state funds to study the county's property-assessment process.

CONCERNS

Supervisor George Canon (R-Newcomb) said he would not support any town assessment program orchestrated by the state.

Supervisors Gerry Morrow (D-Chesterfield), Dale French (R-Crown Point) and Randy Preston (I-Wilmington) agreed.

Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava (R-Moriah) questioned whether the $25,000 grant was a "carrot that the state of New York's got dangling on a stick."

Canon suggested they give the grant money back, lest the state exert any control over local assessments.

As discussion ensued, Supervisor Roby Politi (R-North Elba), representing a town where property values total more than $1.5 billion, said countywide assessment has nothing to do with equalization rates.

Essex County already coordinates town assessment rolls, he said.

The county has been praised by the State Office of Real Property for its work in coordinating town numbers.

"County-wide assessing is (already) done here at the county by our folks," Politi said.

EQUALIZATION RATE

That process has nothing to do with the equalization rate, which is set by the state evaluation of a cross-section of property sales.