After watching the Board of Equalization meeting July 20, it was apparent there is no way to successfully appeal your property assessment.
One appellant gave a professional appraisal and a value from a local longtime realtor. Both valued the property $200,000 lower than the borough. The assessor replied to the appeal by retaliating and raising the original assessment from about $850,000 to $1.1 million. Sane members of the Board of Equalization tried to choose a value in line with appraised value, but were chided by the Mayor not to go with an appraised value over assessed. The Mayor and assembly member Debra Schnabel went so far as making statements like “most homes sell for more than appraised value,” indicating how out of touch they are with the common residents. I guess they have never had to get an FHA loan.
Then the Mayor requested a recess in the middle of discussion. I believe the BOE members met during the recess, in violation of the Open Meetings Act, so Olerud could keep discussions out of the public eye. When BOE members returned from the recess they were all ready to go with the assessor’s initial value — a value far out of line with those provided by professionals.
Out of fear of such retaliation, I will be cowering to their power, repealing my appeal and paying a tax bill double last year’s. Ms. Schnabel and Mr. Olerud — what is driving you to stick it to your residents? This is no way to make life here affordable.
Todd Winkel