First step taken to assist owners of sinking homes
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Amherst residents whose properties are sinking will receive tax relief after fixing the damage.

At a press conference Friday, Supervisor Satish Mohan announced that legislation had been signed in Albany that will keep residents who have paid for sinking property damages from paying the full taxable value on their properties for five years.

Mohan noted that a total of 283 homes in the town have been assessed downward, with 500 having applied for foundation repairs and another 1,150 homeowners making inquiries about their homes.

"Many people don't want to advertise that their homes are sinking," Mohan said, noting that he thinks the number of homes and homeowners that can benefit from the new legislation is more than 2,000.

"There are 33,000 homes in Amherst," he said. "That's about 7 percent."

Calling the legislation a "catalyst" for more aid for Amherst homeowners as well as other communities around the country, Mohan noted that it would be about a month before the law would take effect.

"Maybe the second or third step would be relief with those individuals' school and county tax," said Sen. Mary Lou Rath. "Hopefully this will encourage people to keep their properties up and take care of the problems."

While the legislation won't help those who cannot afford to pay for the damages to their homes, the new law may be a step in the right direction.

"Some people are cashing out retirement funds in order to repair their houses, and they've seen no reimbursements," said homeowner Darlene Torbenson. "Hopefully, this legislation will help."