Golisano in court to challenge tax assessments

Posted at: 09/27/2012 2:40 AM | Updated at: 09/27/2012 7:18 PM
By: Berkeley Brean | WHEC.com

Tom Golisano is in a trial in Ontario County. He’s fighting for $200,000 in taxes he paid on a home he never lived in and doesn’t own anymore.

He says he paid too much money because of inflated assessments and he says he’s owed that money back. It involves a mansion that he took over from his daughter but never lived in.

The house is 7,000 square feet on ever floor, a four car garage, a pool, and an in-law apartment.

It was first listed at $4 million in 2007. It was assessed at $3.4 million in 2008. The house eventually sold for only $1.3 million this year. The assessments went down every year, but always exceeded the appraisals of the house.

The exchanges between Golisano and Victor’s attorney were combative. The attorney tried to get Golisano to admit that his assessment did go down year by year.

Shelia Chalifoux: “I’m trying to establish Mr. Golisano that the town went ahead and lowered the assessment based on this email?”

Golisano: “What’s wrong with the initial assessment?”

Chalifoux: “The initial assessment?

Golisano: “Yeah, I mean they did that too and it doesn’t make it right.”

Chalifoux: “It doesn’t make it right. I’m not saying so. My question to you is did they lower the assessment. “

Golisano: “They lowered it.”

Chalifoux: “Thank you”

Not enough, as far as Mr. Golisano is concerned. The argument from Golisano's team is that house is so extraordinary; it’s outside the realm of regular assessments. So the sale price should be the real value, not the assessment.  The trial could extend into Friday.

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