Oswego neighbors frustrated after an increase in property taxes

OSWEGO, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Homeowners in the City of Oswego are fired up after finding out their home assessments will skyrocket.

Frustrations are fuming in the city of Oswego.

“If I have to choose between feeding my family and paying my mortgage, that’s an easy choice,” said Gary Thompson, a neighbor in the City of Oswego.

That choice? To move out of Oswego. Something Thompson has strongly considered after receiving a letter with his new assessment in the mail.

“I’m left here wondering if I’ll be able to continue to afford to live here,” said Thompson.

Thompson said he moved back to his hometown in 2018 because of the changes done to the city. But since moving back, his assessment has increased for a third time.

“This letter shocked me because my value increased by $93,000,” said Thompson.

Thompson isn’t alone.

“When you see your assessment up a $100,000 it certainly is concerning to people,” said Robert Corradino, city of Oswego mayor.

Corradino says 52 percent of homeowners are seeing an increase, with 48 percent either seeing no change or a reduction.

“The last time we did a full value assessment for the whole city was 1997, which was 27 years ago. I think that everybody can agree that in the last 27 years, property values have gone up,” said Corradino.

The mayor adds that assessments were done in the last 27 years.

“During that time, the city of Oswego would do assessments on property one of two ways, they would either reassess somebody’s property when it was sold or they would do sections of the city every four years. So what happens is the people who have been in their houses for 30 or 40 years who haven’t been reassessed are now seeing their assessment go up because they’ve kind of been left behind in the assessment department,” said Corradino.

The good news is the mayor says this isn’t a done deal, and those upset can dispute the changes.

“Overall, I think the project has been done thoroughly but with that said, I don’t think that it’s perfect, and part of the process is having the ability of our property owners to come in and take another look at this,” said Corradino.

It can be done online by visiting the website in the letter sent with your new assessment or by calling the 800 number listed in your letter.

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