Brookhaven Town Assessor James Ryan Educates Town on Tax Grievances

The Farmingville Civic Group held their second meeting after their recent re-launch Wednesday night at the Farmingville Fire Department.

The speaker was James Ryan, Brookhaven Town Assessor, who advised those in attendance on how to file a grievance rather than paying a third-party sometimes large sums of money to do it for them.

Nearly all of the nearly 30 people in attendance came armed with notepads, pens and pencils in an attempt to understand the often confusing process of assessing tax grievances.

Ryan came prepared, though, supplying them with a 17-page, step-by-step instruction guide on how they can start saving money and assess their own taxes, just in time for tax season in a few weeks.

"We provide services to the public," said Ryan, who also supplied tax-exemption forms for the audience, ranging from fire-fighter and veteran exemption forms. "I believe we should be open, and if you need help, you should be able to get it from anyone in my office."

Ryan offers anyone free tax-assessment for those who feel they have been over-assessed. "You're not always going to win," he said. Since it is nearly impossible to assess each home owner individually, it is often determined by location.

Often times people feel their home value was higher than market value, therefore resulting in many paying the government more than they legally should be. Other assessments are given solely based on home location, sometimes over-generalizing an area, rather than each home's price being determined individually. If one home in a development upgrades their home with a pool or other luxuries other homes in the area have not done, that home has a higher value, and thus should be assessed that way.

"My job is to make sure everything is fair," said Ryan.

For those who have upgrade or added to their home without informing the town assessor, Ryan said you have to expect your assessment to increase.

"If you do nothing to your property and the assessment comes in low and didn't put in an extension, you're good," he said. "If you did something without a permit and it is something that is substantial and I find out, I'm going to re-assess you. I have to."

Anyone who feels they are being over-assessed can be heard before the five-member board of assessments, though it is not mandatory. Even if there is adequate proof that someone is being over-assessed, it is not guaranteed that they will be approved, due to the mass assessment cases they are given each year.

"You have to remember that the burden is yours," said Ryan, emphasizing that the government will not reach out to you for a re-assessment. If the owner feels they are over-paying, it is no one's job but their own to bring it to the attention to the town assessor.

Ryan joked that if you feel you are being over-assessed but it is found that you're being under-assessed, you will not be exposed. "God bless you," he said, much to the approval of the audience.

Even the town assessor himself isn't safe from over-assessments. Ryan admitted that he has been over-assessed the last 18 years, but cannot do much about it. A laughing Ryan said, "I can't complain unless I want to be in the newspaper."