There is a three-step process which can assist property owners in better understanding their assessment and may result in changes to the taxable assessed value.

1. Informal Assessment Review - Informal assessment review meetings are scheduled during the months of January, February and March for anyone wishing to seek a change in the taxable assessed value. You can contact the Assessor's Office to schedule an appointment.
2. Grievance Day - If you do not receive a reduction through the Informal Review, or if you feel the reduction granted is not sufficient, the next step in the process is the Grievance Procedure. Grievance Day is always the fourth Tuesday in May and is the opportunity to petition the Board of Assessment Review for a change in your assessment. You must file a formal grievance petition - available in the Assessor's Office after May 1. You must have filed a Grievance petition if you plan to submit a Small Claims Petition.
3. Small Claims Assessment Review - If you are dissatisfied with the Board of Assessment Review decision, you may request judicial review with a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) hearing officer. Form RPTL-730 is available on-line at www.tax.ny.gov as well as at the Assessor's Office at Greece Town Hall and Monroe County Clerk's Office at 39 W. Main Street. The small claims petition must be completed and the original and three (3) copies must be filed at the MONROE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE along with a $30 fee. It must be filed within thirty (30) days of the filing of the final assessment roll (which is usually July 1st). The filing fee may be recovered under certain circumstances. You must also mail a copy of the petition within ten (10) days after it is filed with the County Clerk to the following: Town Clerk, County Treasurer and the Town Assessor. You will be notified of a hearing date and location by the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The hearing officer is directed by law to consider the best evidence in each case, and may order a reduction in the final assessment or decide that it should remain unchanged.

For all of the above steps it is the responsibility of the homeowner to prove that the market value of the property is less than the current assessed value. Proof can be in the form of a professional appraisal (you may have this if you recently purchased the property or refinanced your mortgage), a Comparative Market Analysis done by a realtor (this is usually done as a courtesy by most realtors), or you may research from recent sales data on comparable homes in your immediate area. If you provide your own research, it would be helpful to provide photos of your home and photos of the comparable homes you used.

Assessment Process Calendar

Exemptions Filing Date - March 1 (Resident must file any and all paperwork with Town by 3/1).

Taxable Status Date - March 1 (State of the property as of 3/1 ie land, shell, demolished)

Tentative Roll Filed - May 1 (Preliminary assessment filed)

Grievance Day - 4th Tuesday of May

Final Assessment Roll Filed - July 1