Our office frequently handles tax assessment work for clients. As many people know, reductions in real property taxable assessed value season starts in March and goes through most of May in full force. Not unlike our Adirondack end of winter weather! Our office has been inundated with calls from Harrietstown town residents and property owners regarding significant increases in assessed value of the property. Please feel free to reach out to us if you think that your assessed value is artificially high or is unfair, but please keep some things in mind. Based on our review of matters, the Town of Harrietstown has been operating at an equalization rate of under 100%. For example, in 2025, the equalization rate was 70.21%. This meant that people were being assessed below what was considered fair market value by the Town of Harrietstown’s assessor’s value placed on the property. The Town of Harrietstown has sought to reassess properties at what they believe to be fair market value and use a 100% equalization rate. Thus, numerous property owners, if not all, have seen their assessed values rise significantly. However, the Town of Harrietstown included a hypothetical estimate table on its 2026 assessment notifications for folks who own property in Harrietstown. The bottom right-hand corner of this table shows property owner’s estimated increase in taxes vis a vis the increased assessed values. As it is anticipated that every property owner’s assessed values are basically increasing, some folks will see tax increases; some will see their taxes remain relatively flat, and some will actually see their estimated taxes decrease. Thus, please note that, your real property fair market value doubling in assessed value does not mean that you are going to pay twice as much in taxes next year.  You have the right to contest this proposed increase in assessed value if you choose. If you are interested in discussing your potential tax assessment challenge, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (518) 523-2441. Please provide us with a copy of your 2026 assessment notification to aid our review. Thank you.