Neighboring assessors will help out the six towns formerly assessed by Rich Barbic.
Representatives from the six towns––Seward, Sharon, Carlisle, Esperance, Schoharie and Wright––met with other assessors and county Real Property Tax Services Director Marjorie Troidl last Tuesday to reach an agreement.
Mr. Barbic died March 11, and officials have been considering options since then.
Local governments use assessments to determine property taxes, and the assessment rolls must be completed by May 1.
But it appears the towns will meet that deadline, thanks to Tuesday’s agreement. Cobleskill Assessor Alan Danforth and Summit Assessor Judy Sirena will work on the rolls for Carlisle, Seward and Sharon, while Broome Assessor Bob Breglio and Conesville-Jefferson Assessor Mark Los will work on Schoharie, Esperance and Wright.
Town boards either already have or are expected to approve their interim assessors this week, Ms. Troidl said.
Although Mr. Barbic had completed much of the work, “they’ll still have to go out and do some assessing” on new parcels, Ms. Troidl said last week.
The towns were divided into three-town Coordinated Assessment Programs (CAPs), with Carlisle, Seward and Sharon in one and the other three in the second CAP.
The interim assessors will divide the work themselves, Ms. Troidl said.
“I imagine one will work in the field and the other in the office,” she said. “We have our work cut out for us, but we’re not afraid of it.
“And Rich laid such good groundwork. That will help.”
At the same time, Ms. Troidl said, the towns will advertise for a replacement for Mr. Barbic.
They may hire one assessor for each CAP or an assessor and a deputy to handle both CAPs, she said.