Assessing Changes

MORIAH SETS HEARING ON ASSESSOR SWITCH:

By a split vote, the Moriah Town Council has decided to hold a public hearing on the possible switch from a Board of Assessors to a single elected assessor.

The council voted 3-2 to hold the hearing, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 at Moriah fire hall, to decide if it will put the issue on the November general election ballot.

If voters supported the creation of an elected sole assessor, the post would be elected in 2007 for a six-year term starting Jan. 1, 2008.

2 TOWNS TO MERGE ASSESSMENT OFFICES

The [Town of Fishkill] town board voted Wednesday morning to combine the town's assessment operations with those of the Town of Wappinger.

The towns have discussed forming a joint assessment department for more than a year. The measure that passed Wednesday set Jan. 1 as the target date for launching that plan.

A contract still must be signed between Fishkill and Wappinger. The town boards then would have to agree on the appointment of a joint assessor.

Property assessments in the towns would be maintained at the same equalization rate, which is a comparison of assessments to market values.