One company responds to reassessment bid
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Supervisor Satish Mohan said the one bid the Town of Amherst received for returning to 100 percent assessment was more expensive than he had hoped.

"Its a big project. We don't have anyone who can appraise all 43,680 parcels," he said. "I was hoping for $5 to $6 a parcel."

What Emminger, Hyatt, Newton and Pigeon, Inc. offered was $13.52 per parcel, a $590,000 cost to the town.

Despite the higher cost, Mohan presented the contract to the Town Board at Monday's special meeting, but the motion was tabled. Members said they needed more information, especially since only one response was received.

The funding for GAR Associates was removed from the 2007 budget. The company had been paid $500,000, about $15 per parcel. Of that, $250,000 was paid for by New York State for the town's participating in the annual 100 percent reassessment program.

The contract is part of the town's attempt to return to 100 percent assessment in 2008.

In March, Joseph Muscarella, regional director for the office of real property services for the State of New York, spoke to the Town Board about its timeline to return to 100 percent.

At that time he suggested some fast action, as time was running out to reassess the 65 neighborhoods in Amherst.

During Monday's meeting, Town Assessor Harry Williams said he had not seen the contract, nor had Comptroller Frank Belliotti, to confirm a funding source. It had been reviewed by the town attorney's office, Mohan said.

In March it was reported that a field review of values must be completed by December.

The next time the board can vote on the contract is at the regular Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6.