Last year the valuation date for most New York State towns north and west of Westchester was moved backward to July 1 of the year prior to the assessment roll to which it applies. (For instance, the 2008 assessment roll would have a valuation date of July 1, 2007.) The alleged rationale for this was that when revaluations were underway assessors would be able to rely on existing market data for the upcoming roll rather than guess what the market might look like for a valuation date that hasn't yet occurred at the time of data collection. (Query whether the date change actually took any of the guessing out of assessing.)
Now, quite a number of Westchester towns and cities have followed suit by moving their valuation date back to July 1 of the year prior to the assessment roll. (Query the motivation for this shift given that most Westchester towns and cities have not performed a revaluation in many decades, so why bother other than to confuse, constern, and trip up taxpayers while at the same time finding themselves a better real estate market since they don't like the one we're in now?)
A mistake in the valuation date can have potentially serious consequences in an appraisal submitted for trial, and on a practical level can change the relevant market under discussion these days by quite a lot. While the valuation date change no doubt will help many municipalities in negotiations during the current market, they may have shot themselves in the foot looking to 2010 and beyond.
For now, here is Your Blogger's best information on the towns and cities in Westchester that have moved their valuation date to July 1 of the preceding year:
Pound Ridge
Ossining
Town of Rye
City of Rye
North Castle
Cortlandt
Eastchester
Pelham
Scarsdale
Somers
Yorktown.
If readers are aware of others, or any mistakes, please post!
