“In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes” said Ben Franklin. But in Cohocton the inequitable increase of taxes for some properties owners is a certainty you can expect from the current administration and assessors. Any careful analysis of property comparisons will prove beyond a shadow of doubt that certain families get preferential treatment. At public meetings residents who are not on the ‘right’ list are called: “THOSE PEOPLE”.
When you get your Cohocton School bill this month, the increase in assessment will illustrate that the Zigenfus administration has systematically and arbitrarily raised the property value of owners that need to be punished. If your tax mailing address is out of Cohocton, or if you moved into this town, you qualify for that other infamous message. “If you don’t like the way Cohocton is run – “GET OUT OF TOWN’ ”. The penalty for being a non participating landowner is to have the assessors jack up your assessment. Your reward is to shell out more than your reasonable part, while favored families avoid paying their fair share. Is that evenhanded to Cohocton village or Atlanta hamlet residents?
The housing market has crashed. Prices are headed down and properties are losing value. But the incumbent assessors approved a hefty increase upon indifferent property owners or select troublemakers. Just wait till the actual dollar rates jump in order to pay for the mismanagement of Cohocton government.
The burden to the taxpayers from the real costs of the industrial wind project will soon be evident. Vague promises of “LOOKING AT A TAX REDUCTION” from the Town Board is as credible as all the other falsehoods that have been made by the current administration. They do not represent you. Their actions confirm that if you object to their closed door favoritism, you need to be punished.
That’s not a government that deserves to remain in office.
I am Rebecca Conard and my friend Christina Brautigam and I are running in the Republican primary on Tuesday 18, 2007 for Town Assessors. Remember you are able to vote for two candidates and we ask that you pull the lever for us and all Reform Cohocton Republican Candidates. It’s time for a positive change!
The false charges coming out of the incumbent camp demonstrate just how desperate they are to cover-up their record. Cohocton residents know very well that the incumbents are afraid to defend their own administration. When the lies of the Town Administration are pointed out it is factual reality, we have the proof. The good people of Cohocton know that Reform Cohocton is speaking the truth.
Old Ben Franklin was right! The demise of the incumbent’s is taking place before your eyes. They fear the loss of power and are running scared.
Be sure to attend the Tuesday, September 11, 2007 public informational meeting at the Cohocton Elementary 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 30 Park Avenue, Cohocton, NY
Rebecca Conard 10517 Mattice Road Cohocton, NY 14826
(Click to read Reform Cohocton article)
2 comments:
Mrs. Conard,
Would appreciate your view on the very serious property tax situation in Cohocton.
I know of one case that received what amounts to a 200% increase in assessed value over last year. We all heard we are simply complying to the 100% assessment rule for NYS. But, in fact in this case, the "new" value is still 100% more than paid for the property just a few short years ago!
It's hard to understand anyone believing Cohocton property values going up 100% in 5 years. This inflation would perhaps outpace the most luxurious and expensive real estate in the nation. This is especially hard to understand given that nationally, real estate has either dropped or been flat for the past 18 months.
The end game isn't too hard to understand. If you can't pay your astronomical property taxes you have two choices, sell or loss the land to the town. If you can't sell, then you optionally drop your price until the property does sell (resulting in a significant personal monetary loss). If you lose the property to the town, then that's a 100% loss. Either way, you lose.
I know many people who have invested hard earned dollars in Cohocton property beleive they have been baited and switched with all this. For example, if I knew my tax bill would be what it is today, (even worse that I have to pay resort class taxes and now live in an industrial area) I would have _never_ bought in Cohocton.
What will you do as the Town Assessor to fix this very serious issue?
Name Withheld by Request
If I get elected as Assessor, I would put an end to favoritism, and apply professional conduct. Solutions require new direction and leadership. The 100% reassessment WILL be reviewed.
I totally agree with you, It happened to us also, as we are newcomers to Cohocton. We, too, were stung. Had we known what was going on, (we weren't even told about these windfarms when we applied for all our building permits!) we would never have bought land and built our new home with our hard earned retirement, here in Cohocton.
With the present government, everything is done behind closed doors, Secret dealings will END, if the Reform Cohocton Team gets elected for a new smiling government that is willing to work with EVERYONE! We plan on delivering solutions!
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