The Peru Gazette

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By John T. Ryan

Peru – Late last week Peru property owners received a 2020 Assessment Notification letter from Tax Assessor Jeremiah Cross. Based on Facebook comments several taxpayers are not happy about increased value assessments especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Others, who haven’t spoken publicly, believe their increases are valid. Some people even had slight decreases. The Town’s overall assessed value increased by $54.5 million.

Yesterday Supervisor Brandy McDonald said he had received over 100 messages or phone calls on the issue. One person stated their assessment went from $75,000 to $150,000, another person stated their’s went from $20,000 to $67,000. One person was in tears. McDonald stated on Facebook, “Assessments for the Town of Peru were not initiated by the Peru Town Board or myself, it was initiated by Clinton County period. Clinton County decides when to perform these assessments and did not advise the Town Board prior to sending out the letters.”

Peru signs an annual contract with Clinton County for assessment services. Jeremiah Cross is a County employee. Clinton County Director of Real Property Services Martine Gonyo said local governments have a policy of assessing at 100% of market value or as close to that amount as possible. The New York State Office of Real Property monitors assessments. When it detects a town’s assessed values falling below about 95% of the market value, it directs that they be brought back to 100% by conducting a revaluation. Peru’s had fallen to the 91/90% level; therefore, a revaluation was in order. The process began last summer. It was not a reaction to any current state, county, or local budgetary issues.

Jeremiah Cross stated that Brandy McDonald was aware that a revaluation/reappraisal was taking place, but Cross doesn’t recall discussing the dramatic impact on some taxpayers with McDonald. Peru actually applied for state aid to conduct the revaluation. Cross said a large property value increase indicates that the previous assessed value was much lower than it should have been. Assessed values are determined by analyzing sales prices of comparable properties in a given neighborhood over a three-year period.

Towns falling under the 95% level can choose not to do a 100% revaluation, instead basing taxes on a NYS calculated equalization formula. That method tends to equalize taxpayer assessed value increases; however, these towns may not receive a fair share of county sales revenue. Enhanced Star and agricultural exemptions will be impacted and its taxpayers will also pay a greater share of school taxes than taxpayers in the same school district residing in towns with 100% assessments. Equalization formulas applied to an entire town also do not correct unfair individual assessments.

NYS determined that assessed values in the Towns of Plattsburgh, Au Sable and Schuyler Falls were below 95% of market value; however, their town boards chose to rely on equalization formulas rather than revaluing to 100%. Plattsburgh Assessor Brian Dowling stated, “Traditionally approximately 10% of those receiving a notice will come to the Board of Assessment Review hearing. Due to COVID-19 having a milieu of citizens clamoring for the BOAR’s attention was not desirable.” Au Sable Town Supervisor Sandy Senecal said her town followed the recommendation of its assessor George “Speedy” Arnold. She said, “Our appointed assessor did not feel comfortable talking to people over the phone about assessment increases and the Board agreed with him.” Town of Schuyler Falls Assessor Gary Drollette said he didn’t feel a revaluation would be fair to the public with all that’s going on. He foresees property values falling. All three of these towns employ their assessors rather than contracting with Clinton County.

Beekmantown, like Peru, contracts with Clinton County for assessment services. Town Supervisor Sam Dyer said he’s been getting the same taxpayer backlash that Brandy McDonald’s been receiving and that land values have been affected the most. He commented, “This is not the time to hit anybody with these large increases.” Dyer said he knew a revaluation was ongoing, but he was not aware of the significant increases until the notification letter was published.

In an ideal world increased assessed values would be accompanied by a proportional decrease in tax rates resulting in no tax increase, but as Jeremiah Cross stated in his notification letter “Your tax liability will be affected by several factors including changes to school/county/municipal budgets, changes to assessments to other properties, changes to exemptions applicable to your property, and apportionment of school and/or county taxes among municipal segments.” The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic adds another layer of uncertainty. All forms of tax collection have been severely impacted; therefore, predicting future tax rates is next to impossible. The ultimate goal is for everyone to be fairly taxed. If a property is under-assessed another taxpayer has to make up for the loss of revenue.

Peru residents desiring to discuss their assessments with Assessor Jeremiah Cross should call him at the Clinton County Real Property office at 518-565-4760. If you don’t agree with his findings you have the right to file a formal complaint as outlined in Cross’s assessment notification letter.

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JF-kpUr-xYA

The Peru Central School District is seeking candidates to fill two (2) vacant, at-large seats on the Board of Education, due to the expiration of the terms of Ms. Cynthia Mills and Mr. Steven Peters.

Both seats are for full five-year terms from July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2025.

Monday, May 4, 2020. Clinton County Health Department (CCHD) reported the following changes to the Department’s information release practices to begin on Tuesday May 5, 2020.

 CCHD will continue to issue media releases as situational changes occur or new information becomes available; however, releases may not be distributed on a daily basis.

 Clinton County COVID-19 case updates (numbers) will be published daily on CCHD’s Facebook (@clintonhealth) and Twitter (@ClintonCountyHD) accounts.

More than 180 nations worldwide have confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The following have the highest number as of 4 a.m. ET*:

1. US 1,180,634 (+1.95%)
2. Spain 248,301 (+0.48%)
3. Italy 211,938 (+0.58%)
4. UK 191,832 (+2.12%)
5. France 169,583 (+0.39%)
6. Germany 166,152 (+0.29%)
7. Russia 145,268 (+7.86%)
8. Turkey 127,659 (+1.28%)
9. Brazil 108,620 (+6.67%)
10. Iran 98,647 (+1.26%)

Source: Johns Hopkins University

*Percentage change over 24 hours

The Albany Times Union is reporting that according to Cuomo none of the state’s 10 regions currently meets the state’s re-opening standards, which include declining COVID-19 infection rates and 90-day stockpiles of personal protective equipment in hospitals.

The governor’s plan, which is based on guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control, also listed schools and entertainment venues, including stadiums and concert venues, as opening in the fourth and final phase of what may be a months-long reopening.

May 4, 2020

More than 180 nations worldwide have confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The following have the highest number as of 4 a.m. ET*:

1. US 1,158,041 (+2.20%)
2. Spain 247,122 (+0.63%)
3. Italy 210,717 (+0.66%)
4. UK 187,842 (+2.37%)
5. France 168,925 (+0.24%)
6. Germany 165,664 (+0.42%)
7. Russia 134,687 (+8.57%)
8. Turkey 126,045 (+1.34%)
9. Brazil 101,826 (+4.87%)
10. Iran 97,424 (+1.01%)

Source: Johns Hopkins University

*Percentage change over 24 hours

A Facebook message from Peru Town Supervisor Brandy McDonald

((((Please Share))))) Attention Peru Community ! The recently sent out assessments for the Town of Peru was not initiated by the Peru Town Board or Myself, it was initiated by Clinton County period. Clinton County decides when to perform these assessments and does not advise the Town Board prior to sending out the letters. Please contact the assessors in your letters as the Town Board has no authority to change them or give advice. If it was under our control we would of certainly not allowed this during this difficult time. I’d appreciate it if the community would ask us first instead of assuming it was the Town Board or Myself, as this was definitely not a Town Board decision!! I have received over a 100 messages / emails / calls in 2 days and I have addressed them all with the above answer. I agree it was definitely poor timing by Clinton County.

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Source: Quebec’s COVID-19 Case Count Exceeds 31k, With Over 2,200 Newly Reported Cases – MTL Blog

Lab-confirmed positive 71, Recovered 53, Deaths 3

Probable* 3, Recovered 2, Deaths 1

Suspect** 37, Recovered 37, Deaths 0

Active cases 15

Total Tested 831