Carlton completes data collection for reassessments

CARLTON – The town and its consultant as part of a reassessment process announced the data collection phase of the project is complete and residents will be getting letters, beginning on Friday.

Those letters will include a summary of information about each of the respective 2,400 properties in Carlton. Property owners will be asked to review the information. If the information is correct, no further action will be required. If the inventory does not appear to be correct, instructions will be included as to how to submit any requested changes.

A dedicated help line will be set up to assist property owners with questions.

Carlton hired GAR Associates Inc. to be contractor for compiling the data. GAR Associates Inc. was hired for $68,000 to visit every property in the town and make note of swimming pools, additions, sheds, garages and exterior property improvements. GAR has been working on the project since March 2014.

The town has been working to update its assessment records so accurate and fair values can be designated for the properties. Carlton was engulfed in controversy in 2013 when new values for properties were assigned. Residents packed the Town Hall to complain about some of the big increases.

Residents also complained some properties were under-assessed. The town’s records didn’t show all the structures and improvements at some properties with low assessments, town officials said.

The Town Board chose not to re-appoint its assessor and worked out an arrangement with Kendall to share its assessor, Gene Massey.