ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Homeowners in Rochester who want to challenge their property reassessments will have until Tuesday night.

To challenge a reassessment, you can fill out the form available here or pick up the form at the City of Rochester Assessor’s Office, room 101A in City Hall. The office must receive the form by 8 p.m.

In addition to the form, homeowners should prepare to submit any of the following to the City’s Board of Assessment Review:

• An appraisal with a market value estimate lower than your reassessment completed within the past 18 months.  
• Purchase contract reflecting current or recent market activity of the property (multiple listings) involving an arm’s length transaction or marketing effort that illustrates a lower value. 
• List of recent sales of similar properties in the neighborhood including sale price, building sizes, and date of sale. Recent sale information for one, two, and three family dwellings is available on the City’s website here.
• Written real estate broker’s opinion of lower market value that includes at least 3 comparable properties sold within the past 18 months.

As News10NBC has reported, some homeowners have recently seen their property assessment increase up to 95%. The city’s assessor says the assessments, done every four years, are necessary for a fair and equitable distribution of taxes as the housing market changes.

However, some community leaders including Clay Harris, founder of Uniting and Healing through Hope, have spoken out against the reassessments. Harris said he’s concerned about how the higher assessments could harm Rochester’s housing market and rent affordability.

According to the city, if a reassessment increases from 1% to 60%, the homeowner will likely pay the same about of property tax or less. If a reassessment increased more than 60%, the homeowner would likely pay more in taxes.