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Also attached to this agenda item: Additional Public Comment Assessment Consolidation Webinar Assessment FAQ February 26th Resolution 26-2025 LL Intro 14 of 2024 PH Public Comments - LL Intro 14 of 2024 Resolution 44-2025 LL 5 of 2025 Adoption

To: From: Date: February 21, 2025 Re: Update on Village Assessment Unit In early 2024, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson hired the Laberge Group to conduct a review of the Engineering Department and propose various improvements and efficiencies. The Laberge Group presented the report to the Board of Trustees at the work session on February 5, 2025. Among the possible strategies in their report was a consolidation of assessment functions with the Town of Cortlandt. The report states: According to the New York State Department of State, approximately 70 percent of the state's 554 villages have shifted the responsibilities of assessing to their respective towns. Consolidating the Village’s property assessment function at the Town level has often been discussed as an opportunity to eliminate a duplication of service, streamline government and achieve cost savings… The Village may want to consider consolidation of the property assessment function at the Town level as it is re-organizing the Engineering Department. Consolidated assessment would save the Village between $32,000 and $37,000 annually. Further, consolidation would streamline property taxes by consolidating paperwork and hearings, making the system more convenient for taxpayers. This change would also provide residents with access to full-time assistance from the Town Assessor’s office, replacing the Village’s part-time assessor, who is currently only available one day per week. Laberge estimated that 1,676 parcels would see their Village tax bill decrease using the town assessed value; 1,363 parcels would see their bill increase. Most property tax bills would see only modest changes one way or the other. Only 8.1% would see an increase of $1,000 or more, while 7.6% would see a decrease of $1,000 or more. The Board of Trustees is considering scheduling a Public Hearing on consolidated assessment on March 12 at 7 PM. In the meeting backup there is a “Frequently Asked Questions” sheet on consolidated assessment. The Village Treasurer also plans to host an informational webinar before the public hearing to explain the above figures to members of the community. Please look for details on the webinar in the attached flyer. A listing of the anticipated changes for individual parcels will be released after the webinar and before the Public Hearing. It is very important to remember that approximately 75% of a property’s total tax bill is already generated from the town assessment roll. This includes town, county and school taxes. It is also important to remember that if a resident feels their property is assessed incorrectly, they can annually file a grievance with the assessor and present their case on Grievance Day. Currently, a resident would need to attend two separate Grievance Day hearings (one in February for the Village and one in June for the Town). If the Village were to cease being an assessment unit, there would only be one Grievance Day for all tax purposes in June. Finally, the Village would retain all tax exemptions which it has adopted by local law, such as veteran exemptions, firefighter & EMS exemptions and senior citizen exemptions. The Town would assume the responsibility of accepting applications and the Town Assessor would be the approving authority. Mayor Brian Pugh Trustees Nora Moriarty Nicholson Ian Murtaugh Cara Politi Len Simon Village Manager Bryan T. Healy Village Treasurer Daniel Tucker Village Clerk Pauline DiSanto Village of Croton-on-Hudson New York Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building One Van Wyck Street Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520-2501