Introduction

Our department is responsible for determining and maintaining assessments, property inventory records, ownership interest and maps on over 31,000 parcels. There are hundreds of deeds processed yearly by our office. This process involves plotting property boundaries, adjusting parcel sizes, and transferring ownership interest on our records. Our staff provides this information to taxpayers, appraisers, bankers, realtors, attorneys and others. There is a personal computer available in our office designated for public use to access assessment information. There are various real property tax exemptions available to eligible property owners.

We receive a copy of building permits issued by the Town of Colonie, the Village of Colonie, and the Village of Menands. Our appraisal staff reviews and evaluates each of these permits for either inventory or assessment changes. This process also requires our appraisal staff to produce a supportable and defensible estimate of value from each permit. This value then becomes the new assessment.

We pride ourselves on providing professional service for each and every individual.

Assessor's Responsibilities

• Determine and maintain assessments, property inventory records, ownership interest, exemptions and maps on over 31,000 parcels.
• Locate all taxable property in the Town and identify the ownership. Establish a taxable value for all property subject to taxation. List the values of all property on the Assessment roll.
  To establish the value of any parcel of property, the Assessor may need to know the purchase price (if any), the selling prices of similar property, what it costs to replace property, what rent it may earn, how much it takes to operate and keep it in repair and many other facts affecting its value.
  Utilizing these facts, there are three different approaches the Assessor can take to find a property's value:
  The cost approach is based upon the total of the current costs necessary to replace the property. This includes the current cost of labor, materials and indirect costs such as architectural fees, land development costs, construction financing, etc. The Assessor will also consider any depreciation which may exist.
  The income approach is the preferred method for appraising income-producing properties (investment properties), such as apartments, hotels, motels, business property, etc. The Assessor must consider operating expenses, taxes, insurance, maintenance costs and the degree of financial risk the owner takes in earning income from the property. Also, the expected return for this kind of property is considered.
  The market approach is a comparison of the property to be appraised with other similar properties that have been sold in the same or similar neighborhood. This is done very carefully since the property being appraised may have sold for more than it was worth, or for less. Using this approach, the Assessor must always consider such over- and under-pricing to arrive at a fair evaluation of the property value.
  Real estate sales are carefully analyzed to make sure they are valid market sales (arms length transactions). When several sales are confirmed and analyzed, they are considered good indicators of similar property's value. Since the appraisal process is designated to determine the "market value," this method is preferred because it reflects the actions of the majority of purchasers and users in the market place.
• Assist taxpayers with completing the following exemption application forms and determining their eligibility: Low-income Seniors, Veterans, Enhanced Senior Star, Basic Star, Low-income Disability, Business, Clergy, Agricultural, and Wholly Exempt. The last day for filing all exemption applications for any given year is March 1. To view the various exemption forms, instruction sheets and commonly asked questions and answers, visit the New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services web site.
• Any business applying for status under the jurisdiction of the Town of Colonie Industrial Development Agency or Albany County Industrial Agency must file an application with the Assessor's Office by March 1. A copy of the pilot agreement must accompany the application.
• Providing the Town of Colonie, Albany County, School Districts, and Fire Districts with their total assessed taxable values which is required to determine tax rates.
• Apportion the assessment on all special franchise properties which are utility properties located on roll section 5 of the assessment roll.
• Determine the assessment on all public service properties which are located on roll section 6 (utility and non ceiling railroad) of the assessment roll.
• Determine the assessment on all public service properties which are located on roll section 6 (utility and non ceiling railroad) of the assessment roll.
• Providing the New York State Office of Real Property Tax Services with an Annual Assessors Report reflecting all assessment changes from year to year including all new construction assessments, exemptions, Board of Assessment Reviews, Small Claims and Certiorari Proceeding adjustments for equalization purposes.
• Defending our assessment roll cases involving the Board of Assessment Review, Small Claims Hearings and Certiorari Proceedings.