Scarsdale locals want their mansions valued like it’s the 1970s

And they’re fighting their 2014 assessments tooth and nail

Scarsdale
Scarsdale

Last year, Scarsdale homeowners saw their properties revalued for the first time since President Richard Nixon first took office. Naturally, that added a lot in taxable value — $1.1 billion, to be exact. But residents are still challenging the new assessments to some avail.

In Scarsdale, shaving $1 million off your value can save you $23,000 in property taxes, according to LoHud.

Following the revaluation, owners of nearly 1,000 of the village’s 6,000 parcels quickly filed grievances. And 68 of the 250 top homeowners won reductions, lowering their overall values by $45 million, according to LoHud.

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To be fair, many just felt like the assessments were inflated and don’t actually expect to continue paying taxes as if the Vietnam War is still raging.

“My house wasn’t worth $1,287,000,” former village Trustee Bob Harrison, who had his assessment lowered to $1.1 million, told LoHud. “My slate roof is leaking and it will cost $50,000 to replace it. I had pictures of the leaks with plaster coming down. Plus, the grout is coming up around my pool. My house needs a lot of work.” [LoHud]Christopher Cameron