New Haven Independent

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | December 20, 2006 9:04 AM

"The city doesn’t do a “full physical� every year, said the appraiser. If she wanted, Veneer could request appraisers to do an internal, rather than just a drive-by, assessment."

They do not do it every year but accouding to State laws one should be done every TEN YEARS!!!

This is what I want!! I am in the same boat and I talked to my alderman who said we can do this and that but it was the standard answer he has said to people. I want more than the standard stuff!! my whole street is wrong!!!

How does a street in the good side of East Rock have every house at a 30% depreation rate when the drug dealing area is only at 10% NO THAT IS WRONG!!

That is wrong I can NEVER SELL MY HOUSE FOR WHAT THEY HAVE ME AS!!! NEVER!! I gave them pictures and charts and graphs and was told that any changes would be made by the first week of January. I am lost??? I have to get a lawyer for this now.

Check out a few of the side streets in the Orange street area!! then compare them to the streets in Cedar Hill!! Hello! Two totally different AREAS!!! and everyone knows it!!! And they think I can sell my house for the same as they can!!!! Maybe If the city put the money in to our area like they do over there I could. Maybe if they can help us with the crime that is visable to the open eye day and night!! We maybe able someday but not at this time!! SOOOO HOW CAN YOU TAX US THE SAME!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Yair | December 20, 2006 9:14 AM

A little math literacy moment: Vereen's taxes jumped by a FACTOR of 2, not a power. They (roughly) doubled, not squared. The square of 48,000 is roughly 2 billion.


I'm also sympathetic to her concerns about rising taxes, but (a) real estate prices have risen, and you can't expect valuations not to reflect this. (b) as Ina Silverman's letter and everyone in the city keeps explaining, the mill rate will adjust to balance things out, and (c) the city really does need money to keep us safe, our streets paved, our children educated, and so on. I'm always surprised people need to be reminded of this. You get what you pay for.

Posted by: this matters | December 20, 2006 11:37 AM

People should ask to see how many sales were used from their neighbrohood, and how current they were in establishing the mass valuation model. Most sales used were from 2005 when values were high amd rates low. As we all know sales have died off and values are dropping, but the most current sales were nort even included.

I know sales were not up to date, since my tax bill last yearwas sent to the prior owner almost six months after I purchased the house. And yes the deed had the right mailing address. It is where I live. when I called the assessor a very rude lady to me that's how it goes, and pay t he tax or be foreclosed. In fact my lawyer had to go into get it fixed. Even though I am a licensed appraiser that has handled appeals in almost every town in New Haven County. By the way, in 90% of the appeals there was a reduction, which supports the how unreliable Vison value are.

Therefore,I strongly urge everyone to appeal in February and to gather a list of recent sale, or at least sales in 2006. The law states fair market value, and the appraisal standard is sales within six months and one mile. Also was the $168,000 sale for a 800 sf unit, If not, it is totally irrelevant unless Vision can show the numerical adjustments for size, room count and date of sale. People need to seek out good appraisers familiar with New Haven. Check Department of Consumer Protection for a list 1-860-713-6150 for names and numbers. Interview the appraiser and ask how many appeals they have worked on, and how many years experience they have. Unfortunately, when real estate booms, anyone that can pass a simple test becomes and appraiser, so be informed

Most appraisers know attorney's, but an attorney is not required for a board of appeals meeting. I spoke to the real estate assessor and the acting assessor and neither on had any significant experience appraising residential properties, which comprise 80% of New Haven. No wonder commercail increased 35% less than residential. Next time maybe the city can hire a company from India, since they would have just about the same knowledge of New Haven. Vision messed up Jamestown RI, Hamden and West Haven as well. The are a software company. I meet one last summer, while I was appraising a house. I asked what they were doing. Amazingly, the reply was "we are driving around looking at house to grade them. When asked if they were appraisers which I am, they said no, they didn't have to be. When asked where she ws from, because of her license plate, she indicated she was from outside Boston and had been sent here to hurry the job up. Scarey when you consider the impact their work has to the financial well being of all our home owners.

When will our elected officials realize that the reval methology is fundamentally flawed and start being fair to the citizens. The alderman need to work for all citizens and stop looking for glory over Yale. Cut the bloated salaries of appointees, review special agreemnts to see if they are complied with, stop with so many schools, don't make downtown overrun with tax-exempt buildings on prime property. These are critical steps that the alderman continue to avoid. For those that may suggest going to BOA meetings. let me inform you that I have been and I have had many discussionss with various alders on the exact topics I mention. But one voice gets lost in the cacaphony of politically motivated, self-interested jiberish.

Posted by: this matters | December 20, 2006 2:39 PM

YAIR just a note. The city has failed to collect millions due to poor enforcem,nt of special agreements. Large debvelopers and suppoters of the mayor received many hidden tax breaks. Judt look at the post dated agreements, if you can find them. The city had a 413,000 budeget this year, yet the streets are worse than ever, we have one of the lowest rankings in education, the school spencing on bricks and mortar to line Fusco and other supporters pockets has us at an illegal debt service ration that is covered up and in case you haven't driven in this city the streets are a mess.

Cedar Hill, you can fight thhis and you do not need an attorney yet. Please read my comment above, and please ask the assessor's office for the comparable sales used for your neighborhood. It is not statisically valid if they do not have at least 20 sales of similar property, and the value will not ho;d up when questions. State law requires the nformation be made available to you. Also the city has not doen a full list & measure in over 20 years. This is the unfairness of it all. In fact, if you ask Vision or the assessment department abouot how they addressed crime and various factors in a neighbrohood you will find they have no data at all. And not a single assessor in that office even lives in New Haven. So think about it...nobody from New Haven has any input in the revaluation. How can this be justified?

Posted by: Donna | December 20, 2006 8:59 PM

Hers only doubled? I live in Wooster Square, too. And my assessment is 350% higher than it was. That's right, 350%.

And oddly enough, my condo complex that HAD been depreciating at 20% before this reassessment is suddenly only depreciating at 10%--despite the fact that absolutely NO upgrades have been made to the 1968 complex. The complex across the street, which was completely renovated, top to bottom, inside-out, is listed as depreciating at 15%.

Also, another condo in my complex, which is identical to mine, was assessed at $22,000 LESS than mine, despite the fact that our previous assessed value was identical. How'd THAT happen?

I was one of the first to make an appointment with the idiots at Vision Appraisal, but I'm cynical.
The whole process is totally corrupt.

Posted by: Ned | December 21, 2006 1:35 PM

If you're taxes are too high, it's because the city spends too much of your money. Also, too much time is spent driving away businesses that would generate tax revenues and jobs. If you want to see an example of failed socialism, don't look at the former Soviet Union, just look at New Haven. Has Joyce Chen ever seen a problem that she couldn't "solve" by spending your money? Cell phones for Alderpersons, useless gun buyback programs, unused "community centers", blighted housing projects, graft and corruption - how about the genius who landscaped Wilbur Cross High, with Euonymus alata - an invasive species! Your tax dollars at work.

Posted by: did you know | December 21, 2006 5:05 PM

To illustrate the city scam. Last year the Board of Alserman forgave a tax of more than $60,000 in a multi-million dollar pharmaceutical company that failed to file the proper documents. The CFO of that firm makes a very good salary and at the BOA finance meeting it was pointed out that not a single employee was from New Haven.

But God forbid if you owe a parking ticket. The city will take your car for $50 while you shop for food. Also the makor towing firm Tony's Long Wharf is best friends with the marshall and tax collector. I know that is always a holiday party the tax collector feeds his face at, and the marshall was mayor Johnny's money generator. Maybe the Independent should consider publishing BOA decisions. I know they hide too much from the public. Also, just look at who gets city cars that are used as personal vehicles. Start with Small Business Initiative chief. Oh but he gets the votes every two years. None of the moneys spent on small business by the city have generated one successful company that has hired more than ten New Haveners, and the list of loans is a who's who of corruption. Thanks Ned for making such valid points. It's nice to know some ppeople pay attention evn though our concerns are ignored. Wait until you see the city bidget for the coming year. It was $413,000,000 this year that was illegally overrun by $4,000,000. Next year expect a budget close to $430,000,000, while property values tank. This may be one of the biggest financial disasters to hit New Haven ever. Thanks again Johnny.

By the way why did the mayor house chnage by so little didn't Westville see big increases in value, but his house is only $200,000. Corruption at it's best. We should see values for all department heads and appointees published, it is a real eye-opener