CICERO -- Neighbors on Oneida Lake share beautiful views but now many are questioning how much is that view is worth. On Tuesday, lakeside homeowners who have already appealed twice had a chance to make their case to the Cicero Board of Assessment Review about why they think the recent assessment project was off base.
"It's not like going to a neighborhood where everything is a cookie cutter type home and they're all fairly equal in value or layout or property size," said Dan Mirizio after he appealed his assessment. "Every piece of property is totally different on the lake."
Cicero's first town wide re-assessment in at least fifty years has been filled with controversy - especially around the lake.
"I understand that I have to pay more and I know my house could get more than a comparable house in another part of town, but I don't think it should be that much," said Eugene Camerota after appealing his assessment.
Board members are hearing appeals in eight minute appointments today and tomorrow. Board member Paul Deischer said that homeowners who bring the best information, appraisals and data on comparable properties have the best chance at winning an appeal.
"We pick it apart basically," said Deischer. "We have to see what they have given us and we make a decision basically on what they give us."
Even homeowners who were well prepared said they couldn't tell if their eight minute plea was successful or not.
"They seem like nice people but you really don't know what's going to happen until you get the letter," said Camerota.
The Board of Assessment Review will meet with more homeowners on Wednesday. Sometime next week they will go over all their files and make decisions about each appeal. Homeowners should know in about 30 days if their appeal was successful or not.
