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Curran extends deadline to file property assessment greivances

Robert Pelaez
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran extended the deadline for homeowners to file property assessment greivances on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of the county executive's office)

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has extended the deadline for residents to file grievances for their property assessments due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Curran extended the deadline by 60 days from the original date of March 1 to April 30 on Thursday.  Curran cited the instability of the county’s real estate market along with the financial toll that the pandemic has taken on Nassau homeowners as the reason for the extension.

“This will provide additional breathing room for those who want to fight their property assessment,” Curran said. “I will continue to protect the rights of homeowners and do everything I can to ease tax burdens whenever and wherever possible. I encourage homeowners to consider the possible benefits of the grievance procedure.”

According to the release, the tentative assessed property values for the 2022-2023 assessment roll have been finalized and are being mailed out this month. Nassau homeowners that feel their property has been inaccurately valued can file an “Application for Correction of Assessment” with the county.

Curran, in December, paused the property valuation updates for the 2022-2023 assessment roll due to the coronavirus. 

Because of this, each homeowner’s notice of tentative assessment should reflect the same valuation as the previous assessment roll, unless a homeowner has since received a correction of an error, an assessment reduction, or physically altered improvement to the home. 

Homeowners’ property valuations from the previous assessment protect against updates based on the state of the real estate market, which has fluctuated due to the pandemic.

Curran called for the reassessment of approximately 400,000 homes in 2018 after the county’s assessment roll had been frozen since 2008. 

During that period, thousands of residents filed grievances on the value of their homes, winning reduced assessments and shifting the tax burden onto others who did not challenge their assessments.

Of the 227,475 residential grievances filed on the 2020-21 tentative assessment roll, the commission made 60,760 reductions of class-one properties, according to officials. Last year, officials said, 175,067 residential reductions were made.

Robin Laveman, a chairperson for the county’s Assessment Review Commission, assured the public of the simplicity of filing a grievance including an instructional video on the county’s website.

“Challenging your assessment is a simple process that can be done directly by the property owner in just a few minutes,” Laveman said. “There are many resources, including a five-minute instructional video, ‘How to Appeal Your Assessment,’ to walk filers through the process.”

Laveman also mentioned that county legislators, including Ellen Birnbaum (D-Great Neck), will be holding community meetings to aid homeowners in filing grievances and to address frequently-asked questions.

Homeowners can view the calendar of meetings at www.nassaucountyny.gov/arc, where they can also file a grievance. For those who do not have internet access or prefer to file traditionally, applications can be obtained at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, or by contacting the commission at 516-571-3214.

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