Nassau County is proposing a $25 filing fee for homeowners who wish to challenge their assessments and the Town of Hempstead is opposing such a fee. According to Town Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin, residents who challenge their assessments should not be charged to challenge possible egregious over-assessments of their properties.

Clavin believes that even with Nassau undertaking a reassessment procedure, there may be even more challenges than previous years when on average 50,000 homeowners challenge their assessment.

"Despite the fact that Hempstead Town does not set property tax assessments, many residents have shared information detailing egregious over-assessments of their properties," said Clavin. "To charge residents a fee to correct the county's assessment errors really adds insult to injury."

The county administration is seeking state authorization to charge a $25 filing fee to homeowners who challenge their assessments. Clavin, who, along with Supervisor Kate Murray, is encouraging residents to challenge their assessments if they believe that their assessment is incorrect and believe such a fee infringes on a resident's right to challenge. "It is an attempt to discourage homeowners from challenging a system that has evidenced serious problems," he said.

If the county is set on charging a fee, Clavin suggests the county provide a refund of the $25 fee if a resident successfully challenges his or her assessment. "By successfully challenging an assessment, homeowners would establish that the county was plainly in error. Given this situation, it would be wholly inappropriate for Nassau to charge residents to rectify this error," Clavin said.

Despite the Nassau push, Clavin is confident state legislators won't approve a filing fee. "I have spoken with state legislators in Albany and they have assured me that they are not receptive to the concept of charging residents to challenge their assessments, especially given Nassau County's problems with accuracy in the area of assessment," he said.

The period to file for an assessment challenge ends March 3. Any homeowner who would like more information about challenging his or her assessment can visit www.mynassauproperty.com or call Kate Murray's information line at 489-5000 ext. 4900 or call the Nassau County Department of Assessment at 571-1500.