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Wednesday headlines PM
Apr 13, 2011 4:20 pm
City picks GAR for reval after last year’s controversy
Jamie Larson reports in the Register-Star that the city of Hudson is trying again to underfgo a reassessment of local tax values, this time working with the real estate appraisal firm GAR Associates. In 2010, the release of the Hudson assessment roll lead to a much higher than average number of grievances, a lawsuit from a group of building owners and residents crying foul about the values of their homes. That reval was attempted in house. "GAR project manager for the Hudson reassessment, David M. Barnett, said that they aim to be as transparent and public with their process as possible, reaching out to home owners, providing them with information and resources and holding public workshops to explain the process," Larson writes. "Common Council President Donald Moore said that GAR’s bid on the project was accepted for a number of reasons but their stated commitment for community outreach and involvement was a big part of why they were selected." There will be no major revaluation in 2011. The results of GAR’s assessment will be released in 2012.
Board still working to finalize school budget
Michael Ryan reports in the Windham Journal on ongoing talks to determine a 2011-2012 school budget for the Windham-Ashland-Jewett school district. "A draft version of the budget, released by the board of education in early February, showed that the total for mandated expenses and contractual commitments represents a leap of $348,000 from a year ago," Ryan writes. "Combine that with an anticipated $263,265 decrease in State aid and it is small wonder WAJ administrators have been searching every nook and cranny for ways to ease the seemingly inevitable pain for taxpayers." Board of education members are expected to approve a spending package in late April, giving them less than a month to figure out what goes and what stays before sending the numbers to taxpayers for a May 17 vote.
Delayed Master Plan for Martin Van Buren
Mike McCagg reports in CCScoop that a long overdue master plan for the Martin Van Buren Historic Site in Kinderhook is still on the drawing boards, but has been delayed by federal budget impasses. "The first-ever general management plan for the three-decade-old historic site – the site known as Lindenwald that was home of the eighth president of the United States - was expected to be made public in late 2010, but now is on hold until later this year – at the earliest," McCagg writes. "Site Superintendent Daniel Dattilio said funding for the plan is still in place, but cut backs among planners and agency personnel at the national level has delayed the work."
Town awards $93,000 re-val bid
Melanie Lekocevic writes in the Greene County News that the Athens Town Council recently awarded a $93K bid from Appraisal Consultants to perform a revaluation of the town and village. The motion was approved by a 3-2 vote. The Town Council awarded the bid after four re-val companies submitted bids in response to the RFP, or Request for Proposal. Appraisal Consultants was the lowest bidder. "Supporters of conducting a townwide revaluation, or re-val, say it is a way to level the playing field and make sure all property owners are paying their fair share in property taxes," Lekocevic writes. "Over the years, property values change and some may be paying too much, while others may be paying too little."
Lebanon Valley Speedway owner’s plan for motocross still not on track
Gail Heinsohn has a story in the Chatham Courier about pending questions regarding an application to build a motocross track on land adjacent to the Lebanon Valley Speedway. The application was put in to the Stephentown Zoning Board of Appeals in Rensselaer County last year for a variance for about 10 acres of residentially zoned property, to be turned into a “world-class” motocross facility, with a goal of attracting 30,000 spectators. The land contains state-regulated wetlands and archeologically significant areas.
Fire breaks out in Hudson
Jamie Larson reports in the Register-Star on the fire in Hudson this morning at 754 Columbia Street, within site of the WGXC studios. The fire occurred in the second floor apartment of the building next door to Melino’s Pub at around 10:00 a.m., Larson reported. The apartment sustained significant visible damage to the exterior side wall. Firefighters used a chain saw to cut into the roof and the blaze was put out within a half hour. It was unknown what damage local businesses sustained as of this newscast.
Jamie Larson reports in the Register-Star that the city of Hudson is trying again to underfgo a reassessment of local tax values, this time working with the real estate appraisal firm GAR Associates. In 2010, the release of the Hudson assessment roll lead to a much higher than average number of grievances, a lawsuit from a group of building owners and residents crying foul about the values of their homes. That reval was attempted in house. "GAR project manager for the Hudson reassessment, David M. Barnett, said that they aim to be as transparent and public with their process as possible, reaching out to home owners, providing them with information and resources and holding public workshops to explain the process," Larson writes. "Common Council President Donald Moore said that GAR’s bid on the project was accepted for a number of reasons but their stated commitment for community outreach and involvement was a big part of why they were selected." There will be no major revaluation in 2011. The results of GAR’s assessment will be released in 2012.
Board still working to finalize school budget
Michael Ryan reports in the Windham Journal on ongoing talks to determine a 2011-2012 school budget for the Windham-Ashland-Jewett school district. "A draft version of the budget, released by the board of education in early February, showed that the total for mandated expenses and contractual commitments represents a leap of $348,000 from a year ago," Ryan writes. "Combine that with an anticipated $263,265 decrease in State aid and it is small wonder WAJ administrators have been searching every nook and cranny for ways to ease the seemingly inevitable pain for taxpayers." Board of education members are expected to approve a spending package in late April, giving them less than a month to figure out what goes and what stays before sending the numbers to taxpayers for a May 17 vote.
Delayed Master Plan for Martin Van Buren
Mike McCagg reports in CCScoop that a long overdue master plan for the Martin Van Buren Historic Site in Kinderhook is still on the drawing boards, but has been delayed by federal budget impasses. "The first-ever general management plan for the three-decade-old historic site – the site known as Lindenwald that was home of the eighth president of the United States - was expected to be made public in late 2010, but now is on hold until later this year – at the earliest," McCagg writes. "Site Superintendent Daniel Dattilio said funding for the plan is still in place, but cut backs among planners and agency personnel at the national level has delayed the work."
Town awards $93,000 re-val bid
Melanie Lekocevic writes in the Greene County News that the Athens Town Council recently awarded a $93K bid from Appraisal Consultants to perform a revaluation of the town and village. The motion was approved by a 3-2 vote. The Town Council awarded the bid after four re-val companies submitted bids in response to the RFP, or Request for Proposal. Appraisal Consultants was the lowest bidder. "Supporters of conducting a townwide revaluation, or re-val, say it is a way to level the playing field and make sure all property owners are paying their fair share in property taxes," Lekocevic writes. "Over the years, property values change and some may be paying too much, while others may be paying too little."
Lebanon Valley Speedway owner’s plan for motocross still not on track
Gail Heinsohn has a story in the Chatham Courier about pending questions regarding an application to build a motocross track on land adjacent to the Lebanon Valley Speedway. The application was put in to the Stephentown Zoning Board of Appeals in Rensselaer County last year for a variance for about 10 acres of residentially zoned property, to be turned into a “world-class” motocross facility, with a goal of attracting 30,000 spectators. The land contains state-regulated wetlands and archeologically significant areas.
Fire breaks out in Hudson
Jamie Larson reports in the Register-Star on the fire in Hudson this morning at 754 Columbia Street, within site of the WGXC studios. The fire occurred in the second floor apartment of the building next door to Melino’s Pub at around 10:00 a.m., Larson reported. The apartment sustained significant visible damage to the exterior side wall. Firefighters used a chain saw to cut into the roof and the blaze was put out within a half hour. It was unknown what damage local businesses sustained as of this newscast.