What's happening
This bill requires that assessors in towns of the second class in New York be appointed instead of elected.
Why it matters
Shifts accountability. By moving from elected to appointed assessors, the responsibility for property tax assessment oversight shifts from voters to the town board, potentially reducing direct public input but increasing professional standards and oversight.
Potential for increased expertise. Appointed assessors may be chosen for their qualifications and experience, rather than popularity, which could lead to more consistent and professional property assessments.
Impacts local governance dynamics. Town boards gain more control over an important fiscal position, which may affect local political dynamics and the transparency of property tax decisions.
Grandfathers current officials. The bill allows current elected assessors to finish their terms, avoiding abrupt disruption and giving towns time to transition to an appointment system.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Second-class town boards
The bill would require these towns to have one appointed assessor, removing the exception for towns that retained elected assessors.
Elected town assessors
Assessors who could no longer seek reelection under the bill could complete their current terms.
Voters in towns with elected assessors
The bill would end their role in electing assessors and shift selection to appointment.
Headline styles
Appoint Town Tax Assessors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 39
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7257
IN SENATE
January 14, 2020
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the town law, in relation to requiring the appointment of assessors
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (b) and (f) of subdivision 1 of section 20 of the town law, paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 688 of the laws of 2002 and paragraph (f) as amended by chapter 472 of the laws of 1984, are amended to read as follows:
(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, every town of the second class shall have a supervisor, two justices of the peace, two town councilmen, a town clerk, a town superintendent of highways, three assessors, a collector, and, if there be no town police department, as many constables as the town board may determine necessary. In any such town in which a town police department has been established pursuant to law, the town board may appoint not more than four civil officers who shall possess all the powers and duties of constables in civil actions and proceedings only, except that the town board of the town of Southold, county of Suffolk, may appoint four additional constables, who shall possess all the powers and duties of constables in civil and criminal actions and proceedings, solely for the benefit of Fishers Island located in such town; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to authorize such constables to carry, repair or dispose of a firearm unless the appropriate license therefore has been issued pursuant to section 400.00 of the penal law; and shall be paid no salary by the town board but shall be entitled to collect the statutory fees allowed by law in such civil actions and proceedings. Every town of the second class may have in addition such other employees as the town board may determine necessary for the proper conduct of the affairs of the town. The supervisor, justices of the peace, town councilmen, town clerk, town superintendent of highways[, assessors] and collector in every such town shall be elected. All other town officers and employees in such a town shall be appointed by the town board, except as otherwise
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14213-02-0
S. 7257 2
provided by law. Provided, however, that in a town having less than three hundred inhabitants according to the latest federal census and having a taxable property valuation of less than one hundred thousand dollars according to the latest assessment roll, there shall be elected one justice of the peace for a term of four years [and one assessor for a term of two years,] but no town councilman. Successors to such officers shall be elected for like terms at the biennial town election prior to the expiration of their terms of office. The clerk of the court of a town shall be employed and discharged from employment only upon the advice and consent of the town justice or justices.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subdivision, every town of the second class [which has not exercised the option to retain elective assessors in the manner provided by former section fifteen hundred fifty-six of the real property tax law] shall have one assessor to be appointed in the manner and for the term prescribed by section three hundred ten of the real property tax law.
§ 2. An elected assessor who cannot be reelected due to section one of this act may complete his or her term as an elected assessor.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law, in relation to requiring the appointment of assessors
Purpose
To require towns to end the archaic practice of electing an individual to serve as town assessor
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends the Town Law to remove assessors from the list of positions that are elected in towns of the second class
Section 2: Provides that elected assessor who cannot be re-elected because of section one of this act may complete his or her current term as an elected assessor.
Section 3: Effective date.
Justification
While assessors in a large majority of towns are appointed positions, more than 60 towns still hold to the archaic practice of electing asses- sors. As an important technical position requiring a highly qualified individual, it does not make sense to elect assessors. Voters do not elect town police chiefs, parks and recreation superintendents, or other department heads and there is no reason that a town assessor should be elected.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.