It is surprising to me the number of people who know their taxes are way too high, but they will not make the attempt to grieve them. Even if one were in agreement with the high amount the city is charging, there are still egregious MISTAKES in the rolls such as assessmentsreflecting a non-existent finished second floor, or a neighbor with a garage having a lower assessment than a nearly identical house without one, etc. Some people feel like it's going up against the IRS or something, and that they need to let well enough alone or let sleeping dogs lie or they might make it worse.
I try to explain to them that it may seem futile, but having learned about people's experiences going to court after being denied and so forth, I tell them the aggravation is well worth their while. The whole tax rolls, assessments, rates, numbers thing is just too daunting I guess. You know, that is something that needs reform. Some agency should be offering help to the afflicted in this area. Like the libraries sponsor programs where low-income people get help with a tax return from volunteers. Not everyone is cut out to be a researcher. Couldn't some college or whatever get involved? If you get ripped off financially in other areas, there is usually some group willing to take up your cause and help you out. It's interesting, there are all these groups concerned with whether or not people can obtain a house, but that concern melts away if you have a house but are getting unfairly taxed on that house.
If you went to Price Chopper and bought a can of coffee, and they charged you higher than they charged the person in front of you who just bought the same thing, you'd speak up. If they charged you for the large can when you bought the small, or charged you for two cans when you only bought one, you'd speak up as well.
Even if you are a half-wit buying into that "importance of high taxes" thing, surely you also believe in the importance of ACCURATE taxrolls?
I put this out there because I learned a lot I did not know about taxes at this website, and I believe other people do see it from time totime and become more informed. You can't fight city hall, sometimes, but you do have recourse if you fight and fail, but not if you don't fight them first.

Quoted Text

You can't fight city hall, sometimes, but you do have recourse if you fight and fail, but not if you don't fight them first.

           Yes, you are correct, but most are to lazy or ill informed to know how to win.  If everyone was successful, they would only raise the rate.  Your success is based on slipping under the radar, have your asessment adjusted, while the rate remains the same!

Quoted from Madam X

It is surprising to me the number of people who know their taxes are way too high, but they will not make the attempt to grieve them. ...
I try to explain to them that it may seem futile, but having learned about people's experiences going to court after being denied and so forth, I tell them the aggravation is well worth their while. ...

If you went to Price Chopper and bought a can of coffee, and they charged you higher than they charged the person in front of you who just bought the same thing, you'd speak up. If they charged you for the large can when you bought the small, or charged you for two cans when you only bought one, you'd speak up as well.
...
You can't fight city hall, sometimes, but you do have recourse if you fight and fail, but not if you don't fight them first.

I think there is a fair amount of people that would like to grieve, have done so (or heard stories of others), and the response that comes first and foremost to their minds is the rubber stamp decision "denied, insufficient data."    They don't seem to realize they can go to the next level, or, when reading the explanation of the next level, they see the word "court" and immediately associate that with "hire an attorney $$$$$$," etc.   Even just to see those seemingly dreaded words "filing fee" regarding the SCAR level is a turn off.   People read the first two words that comprise the acronym, "small claims," again, to most, that means "court" and costing money.  They don't realize that not only will they get the filing fee refunded if they win (I think that's still the case), but 99% chance they WILL win at that level.

What would be a great idea, and it has to be done like yesterday, is for several city residents on this board to each write opinion page letters to the gazette and TU.   First sentence should be in all caps.  SCHENECTADY TAXES - DENIED, INSUFFICIENT DATA.   Then everyone can write their own opinion, explain what they did, how they won at the SCAR level.   People used to do this by the thousands even 10 years ago.   Final sentence, again, all caps CITY HOMEOWNERS, CAN YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE FOR WHAT THE CITY SAYS YOU COULD?

Let the papers get a number of letters within a couple days. see how many, if any they would print.  The TU probably would, the Gazette I'm not sure (upon getting to this sentence, I'm sure the dem cheerleader is already giving the mayor and the gazette a heads up).

People should be encouraged to ask themselves "is a day's effort worth a few hundred dollars more in your pocket?"

Pass this along so people understand