City
of Lockport Assessment Department
Assessor - Peter J. Galarneau, SCAA
Real Property Appraiser - Lena D. Villella
Real Property Appraisal Associate - Jessica E. Stopa
Lockport Municipal Building
One Locks Plaza
Lockport, New York 14094
Phone: 716.439.6614
Fax: 716.439.6617
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
| City
of Lockport Tax Rates |
2007
- 2008
School Tax Rate |
$26.449006
per thousand |
2008
City Tax Rate |
$15.687713
per thousand |
2008
County Tax Rate |
$9.043183
per thousand |
Total
Rate
Per Thousand |
$51.179902
per thousand |
Duties
of the Assessor:
- The
assessor's duties are defined in New York State Real Property
Tax Laws. Some of those duties are listed here.
-
The assessor is responsible for valuing real property within
the City.
-
The assessor is obligated by New York State law to maintain
assessments at a uniform percentage of market value each
year. The City of Lockport maintains assessments at 100
% of market value.
-
The assessor discovers and lists all real property. The
inventory (or physical characteristic) is available for
inspection by appointment before the tentative roll is filed.
-
The assessor reviews every transfer of real property in
the City for accuracy including the basic information on
the buyer, seller, and sale price. Assessment records are
updated, and any unusual conditions affecting the transfer
are also verified. The assessor makes corrections to form
RP-5217 (the real property transfer form recorded at the
real estate closing).
-
The assessor approves and keeps track of property tax exemptions.
Among the most common are the Senior Citizen, School Tax
Relief (STAR), Veterans, Disability, Agricultural, and Business
exemptions.
-
The assessor must be present at all hearings of the Board
of Assessment Review (BAR).
-
The assessor prepares and files annual reports on assessment
changes to the NYS Office of Real Property Services.
-
The assessor is responsible for publishing legal notices
including the examination of inventory, the filing of the
tentative and final rolls.
-
The assessor sends change of assessment notices and other
notices to property owners, as may be required by law.
-
The assessor does not determine taxes. Taxes are set by
your elected bodies and are the result of annual budgets
set by the City, the County and the School Board. The assessment
is only one component of the property tax bill and represents
that property owners‚ share of the budget or tax burden.
It is the job of the assessor to ensure the fair and equitable
distribution of the tax levy.
Key dates:
- May
1 - Taxable Status Date.
-
May 1 - Deadline for filing all exemption applications (including
renewals).
-
June 1 - Tentative roll filed.
-
June 1 - Change of assessment notices sent.
-
3rd Tuesday in June - Grievance Day.
-
July 1 - Final roll filed.
Who
to contact with questions:
-
The assessor continually communicates with the public and
answers questions and concerns raised by taxpayers. Anyone
can examine the assessment roll and property records at
any time.
-
It is up to individual property owners to monitor their
own assessment. If taxpayers have questions about their
assessment, they should contact the assessor before the
tentative roll is filed (June 1). In an informal setting,
the assessor can explain how the assessment was determined
and the rationale behind it.
-
If after speaking to the assessor, you still feel you are
over assessed, the publication How
to File For a Review of Your Assessment may
assist you. It describes how to prepare and file a complaint
with the Board of Assessment Review and indicates the time
of year it can be done.
For additional information:
New York State Real Property Services
www.orps.state.ny.us
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