Assessor Assessor

ALL EXEMPTION DEADLINES ARE MARCH 1ST

STAR Credit Information

• A Senior Exemption (form RP-467) is available for residents age 65 or older, owner-occupied primary residences with a combined annual household income (including social security) not to exceed $21,200 for the Village of Phelps and $29,699 for the Village of Clifton Springs.

• Alternative Veterans Exemption (form RP-458A) and (form 458B Cold War) eligibility requires a copy of the veteran’s DD214 or other written evidence to prove dates of service, type of discharge and release, combat zone,  medals and service-related disability.

• Agricultural Exemptions  Agricultural Assessment Application (form RP-305) and Agricultural and Horticultural Bldgs. & Structures (form RP-483) eligibility requires ownership of land consisting of at least 7 acres which has been used to produce crops, livestock, or livestock products for sale in the preceding two years, and has an average gross sales value of at least $10,000 for the two years preceding an application for an exemption.

Additional Informational Resources For You - click below links

ONCOR - Ontario County Online Resources

Ontario County Online Record Search

Ontario County Real Property Tax                                                                                             

Requirements to Become an Assessor:

The assessor is an elected or appointed local government official. Their job is to estimate the value of each real property parcel within a county, city, town, or village. New York State Real Property Tax Law governs what an assessor does and how they must do it. State law also requires that assessors become certified and take specific training classes to learn how to do the job of the assessor properly. A person who isn’t certified can be appointed or elected as an assessor, but they must complete the training within three years of taking office.

The Job of the Assessor:

The assessor collects and maintains the physical inventory of properties in a municipality. Updating all property record cards by taking pictures and sketching properties. This inventory is needed to estimate the market value of all the properties. Assessors are trained to use three different approaches to estimating value to insure fair and equitable property values. These same three approaches are used worldwide by all property valuation professionals.

Assessors also:

• Maintain the ownership records of all property. They record the deed information when a property is sold or changes ownership.

• In order to make sure the value estimates are correct, each year your assessor analyzes all of the properties in the municipality to determine which assessments need to be changed.

• Approve or deny real property tax exemptions. Sometimes that means the assessor must review a taxpayer’s personal information (for example: income, social security disability, and veterans’ service information). New York has about 200 different property tax exemptions.

• Work with planning officials, zoning officials, town engineers, attorneys, governmental tax departments, realtors, appraisers, elected officials at all levels, school officials, and the general public on projects that influence property values in their specific municipalities.

• Attend all meetings of the Board of Assessment Review (Grievance Day).

• Determine and add special district unit charges (for example: sewer, trash, brush removal, lighting, drainage, hydrant, libraries, water service, etc.).

• Meet with property owners to discuss their assessments.