Editor’s Note: The following is a letter to the editor submitted on March 2, 2025 by Auburn resident James Udall. You can submit letters to news@fingerlakes1.com for consideration.
City, school, and county property taxes are likely to increase in 2026. The assessor’s office is paying very close attention to the area’s equalization rate. Are you familiar with what that is?
For the uninitiated, the equalization rate is the percentage of what a property’s current assessed value is in relation to what the tax authority projects the assessed value should be.
Right now, the equalization rate is in the 87%–88% range. By next year, the equalization rate could be in the mid- to high-70% range.
This sounds boring, right? Yawn. I get it. What does it mean???
In plain English… the city is positioning itself to justify a potential tax assessment increase of 20%–25%.
While property values have increased since the last assessment, should the default position of the city, school, and county be to raise property taxes simply because they can? Maybe the city, school, and county budgets should be looked at closely to find areas where savings can be found.
And if you are a renter, this problem affects you too. When your landlord receives an increase in city, school, and county property taxes, the fire insurance premium goes up, the city water rates go up, and trash removal rates go up—who do you think ultimately pays for those things? Do you think your landlord is going to eat those extra costs out of the goodness of his or her heart? Of course not. Your rent is going to increase.
A very sad statistic in the city of Auburn is that fewer people actually own the dwelling in which they live than those who rent. So, if you are a renter in Auburn who supports the Democrat majority on the city council, then you should rethink your vote this coming November. Or… actually get out there and vote in the next city election. I’m not asking you to vote Rrepublican. I am challenging you to think independently and ask if the status quo council is looking out for your interests. If not, then who is being served?
Sincerely,
James Udall
Auburn
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