MISSION
STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT (DofA)
The mission of the Tompkins County
Department of Assessment is:
- to yearly assess properties at uniform percentage of fair
market value in
order to equitably distribute the tax burden amongst the taxable
properties within Tompkins County,
- to administer real property tax exemptions as provided by
the New York State Real Property Tax Law.
- educate the general public about Real Property Assessment
Adminstration.
The Tompkins County Department of Assessment does NOT:
- determine the amount of taxes that an individual property
will pay (a combination of assessment and tax levy does that),
- advocate for any real property tax exemptions (DofA will
administer any exemptions mandated by the NYSRPTL or allowed by local
option),
- have any assessment be influenced by any political entity
(The DofA is totally independent - all employees of the DofA are civil
servants and do not serve at the whim of any political body).
- value property based upon names or ability to pay taxes
(market value dictates how properties are valued).
Go Back to Department of
Assessment's Homepage