An article published on November 19, 2020, titled “Town Targets Zombie Houses” [Residence], described a house “targeted” by Southampton Town as neglected, blighted and abandoned.
Yet the town increased the assessed value of this alleged “zombie” house every year from 2017 to 2019 (when assessments were frozen), for a total increase in assessment of $70,000.
It should be noted that the land component of the assessment didn’t push up the value of the “targeted” house. The land component of the assessment appears to have decreased by $4,400 in 2019.
Further, an article published on January 14, titled “Tax Relief May Be On Way” [Residence], described a tax relief proposal to decrease the property taxes of primary homeowners by shaving off $50,000 from assessed value. However, between 2017 and 2018, the assessment on the alleged “zombie” house increased by more than $50,000.
In other words, Southampton’s tax relief proposal doesn’t prevent the town from increasing assessments on primary homes over and above $50,000. In the example of the alleged “zombie” house, the homeowner could question why the assessment system generated a decrease in the value of the land by the odd amount of $4,400, while increasing the value of the house by tens of thousands of dollars.
Susan Cerwinski
East Quogue
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