Town Of Woodstock: Assessment Information: Assessment Information [Digital Towpath]

Table Of Contents:

Exemption Information
Real Property Database
Contacts
Links
FAQs

Woodstock Assessor's Office

45 Comeau Drive
Woodstock, New York 12498
(845) 679-2113, ext. 11

Sole Assessor: Kristin McDermott
Field Worker/Deputy Assessor: Karen Shultis

Welcome
The Woodstock Assessor's Office welcomes your real property inquiries. We hope that you will find this site informative, and that you will call if you have any questions. Assessment records are open to the public and may be inspected at the office during regular business hours. Any questions regarding a property may be directed to any staff member. Should one wish an appointment to meet with the assessor, simply telephone the office at (845) 679-2113, ext.11.

The Duty of The Assessor's Office
The main function of the Assessor's Office is to estimate the value of real property within the town. This value is one component used in the computation of real property taxes. The town currently assesses properties at 61% of Market Value. Properties are assessed based on comparable properties that have sold recently. If, for example, you own a ranch house, comparable ranch houses will be selected, as similar to yours as possible, in terms of square footage, number of bathrooms and bedrooms, amount of acreage, and other factors. These various factors are given weighted values. The sale prices of these comparable properties are then compiled, with your assessment being determined based on this compilation.

The Assessment Calendar
March 1st of each year is designated as taxable status date. Real property is assessed with respect to its condition on that date.
Once assessments have been determined, it is the responsibility of the Assessor's Office to publish the values by May 1st of each year in the tentative assessment roll. At that time, the public is invited to inspect the roll and check their assessment, as well as the accuracy of the inventory information on file.
Property owners who disagree with their assessments may schedule an appointment with the assessor to present new information. In the event that the property owner remains dissatisfied, he or she may complete a grievance form and attend Grievance Day, which occurs each year on the fourth Tuesday in May. At that time, the property owner or representative may attend an informal hearing before the Woodstock Board of Assessment Review consisting of five local residents who are knowledgeable of the town's real property. The decision of the Board is submitted to the property owner in writing. A further appeal of the Board's decision may be made at a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) hearing or a judicial review. The last day to file for small claims or judicial review is July 31st, or thirty days after the filing of the final assessment roll.
After final values are assigned, the assessor's office completes and publishes the final assessment roll by July 1st.

Exemptions
Several property exemptions, both residential and commercial, are available to property owners. These are obtained by submitting an application to the assessor's office. Exemptions include:
Agriculture (RP-305)

Business (RP-485-b)

Clergy (RP-460)

Disability (RP-459-c)

Forest (RP-480-a)

Non-Profit (RP-420-a & b)

Senior (RP-467)

STAR (RP-425)

Veterans (RP-458)

Other Forms are available from the NYS offices of Real Property Services
The deadline for applying for exemption is March 1st of each year. Forms may be downloaded.

The Real Property Database contains parcel-level information related to the assessment of real property. This information is the basis for the property taxes paid to local governments and school districts.

Search the Real Property Database

Assessor Kristin McDermott Phone: 845-679-2113, ext. 11

Exemption Forms Online from the Office of Real Property Services
How to File for a Review of Your Assessment
Link to General Information

Uniform Percentage of Value The percentage of market value (full value) used by an assessing unit to establish uniform assessments. This value must appear on the tentative roll. Real Property Tax Law Section 305 specifies, "all real property in each assessing unit shall be assessed at a uniform percentage of value..."
Taxable Status Date The ownership and physical condition of real property as of this date are assessed (valued) according to price fixed as of the valuation date. All applications for property exemptions must be filed with the assessor by this date.
Residential Assessment Ratio (RAR) A percentage established by the State Board of Real Property Services according to law, using the ratio of assessed value to the sales price for each usable residential sale in a recent one-year period. Ratios are then listed from highest to lowest; the midpoint (median) ratio is selected as the RAR. The RAR can be used to prove that a residential property is assessed at a higher level than other homes on the assessment roll. Your locality's RAR indicates at what percent of full value residential properties are assessed. For example, a RAR of 20 indicates that residential properties are assessed at approximately 20 percent of their full value.
Equalization Rate "State equalization rate" means the percentage of full value at which taxable real property in a county, city, town or village is assessed as determined by the state board." (RPTL Section 102) The rate is a ratio of the sum of the locally determined assessed values for all taxable parcels for a given assessment roll divided by ORPS's estimate of total full value for that same roll.