Assessor Levinson Announces Grievance Schedule

(Mineola, NY) Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson would like to encourage all home, property and business owners who disagree with the tentative assessed values that were placed on their properties by the County's reassessment contractor, to file an application requesting a formal review with the Assessment Review Commission (ARC) during the filing period beginning January 2nd through March 1st of 2004. Department of Assessment office hours will be extended until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20th, to accommodate residents who would like to speak to an assessor or member of ARC after working hours.

"As I begin the arduous task of identifying and correcting the values placed on properties throughout the County, I would like to invite any home or business owner who believes that their tentative assessed value is too high to file a formal grievance with ARC," stated Assessor Levinson.

One of the primary duties of the Assessor's office is to identify any physical changes that have been made to a property each year so that everyone is assessed in a uniform and fair manner. "By keeping assessed values current, we are taking an important first step aimed at eliminating the 'sticker-shock' taxpayers experience as a result of drastic changes in the real estate market," Assessor Levinson stated.

Last year, home, property and business owners filed nearly 116,000 formal requests for correction of their property assessment; the largest filing for any assessing jurisdiction in the State of New York. Under the Nassau County Charter, an independent commission (ARC) that is separate and apart from the Department of Assessment is charged with the responsibility of reviewing all challenges.

Copies of an "Application for Correction of Property Tax Assessment" can be obtained by contacting the Assessment Review Commission at (516) 571-2391 or by visiting ther Website at www.nassaucountyny.gov/arc/. For your convenience, you may also obtain an application by contacting the Department of Assessment at (516) 571-1500, select Option 4, or by visiting your local public library.

"In the spirit of cooperation, I am pleased to announce that throughout the formal review period, the Assessment Review Commission will be maintaining an auxiliary office in the Certiorari Division of the Department of Assessment located on the second floor of 240 Old Country Road in Mineola," Assessor Levinson concluded. "Together, we will be working tirelessly to improve our assessment system for the common good."

Department of Assessment office hours are 9 a.m. through 4:45 p.m., Monday-Friday.