Syracuse City Council Hearing with Assessment Department - April 16, 2026

The Syracuse City Council held a hearing on April 16, 2026, to review the Assessment Department's operations, budget, and plans for a citywide property revaluation. The department is the third largest revenue source for the city through property taxes. Key topics included the $500,000 proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 to begin a revaluation process, staffing challenges, and asset management.

Discussion Items

• Department Overview & Revaluation Need: The department assesses over 41,000 properties. Despite making over 40,000 assessment changes in recent years, a full citywide revaluation has not been done since the mid-1990s. The equalization rate has declined due to rapid real estate appreciation, increasing the need for a reval. The proposed FY27 budget includes $500,000 for professional services to start the revaluation process, down from $1 million proposed in FY25. The commissioner stated that the revaluation would take approximately 30 months from contract commencement, with potential taxpayer impact in July 2029 for school bills and January 2031 for county bills.
• Staffing & Vacancies: The department has two full-time senior appraisers, one assistant, and three leadership members doing valuation work. There are vacancies: one real property appraiser (unfilled since June 2024) and a need for a second due to Ann Gallagher's retirement. The budget eliminates the information aid and real property assessment clerk positions, with the clerk being promoted to a control clerk role. The commissioner noted that the department is backlogged due to reactive assessments and a hot real estate market.
• Asset Management & Property Sales: Michael Lehman reported $547,000 in property sales revenue in the last fiscal year, including 234 Marguerite, parcels on Seymour and Onondaga Streets, and 300 East Genesee Street. Pending transactions include the Wilbur parcels and others. The city also closed on Phase 1 of the SDC site. The City Hall Commons (1153 West Fayette) lease was discussed; the developer has until November 11, 2026, to close on the project or the city will prepare a new RFP. Operating leases have jumped from under $800,000 to $3.4 million in the proposed budget, partly due to relocating police and fire from the Public Safety Building. The Garzone's space RFP was recently advertised.

Key Outcomes

• No votes or formal decisions were taken; the hearing was informational. The council will consider the proposed $500,000 for revaluation in the FY27 budget. The department will continue to pursue procurement for a revaluation consultant and fill vacant appraiser positions. The council expressed concern about the increase in operating lease costs and the stalled City Hall Commons redevelopment. The department will report back on future property sales and revaluation progress.