Several companies in Nassau created this cottage industry back in the 1980s. Some other local municipalities had companies pop up that caught on over time. However, Nassau is one of only 2 Counties in the state that conduct County-wide assessments. Every other area goes by Village, Town, City, etc. Many of the tax grievance companies are huge contributors to particular local campaigns.
One issue of grievance is that it impacts residents in the same area that do not grieve (shifting the burden), even though they may be entitled to a 'credit' in essence based upon this backward system that is not properly organized or systematic. You can't even find online the methodology, and, to me, this should have been a County-wide discussion, a researched one to boot, before just rolling out another plan to assess without a comprehensive, well-documented plan. Further, this process particularly hits lower income residents who do not have the time, ability, understanding, or finances (to pay the fees) to conduct such a practice. You'll find most grievances are in wealthier neighborhoods.
Clearly, our present system is broke (literally and figuratively). I'd rather have the County organize an independent panel to study what other Counties across the Country implement to successfully address this problem. To me, this is another way to blow money on a contract (one that was not awarded to the lowest bidder, FYI, but rather the campaign contributing one), and continue to 'tax' Nassau County residents without creating a process that will survive long-term and address this endless grievance insanity.
Here's a good NYT article from 2007 regarding the matter, bit old, but, clearly, not much has changed:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/ny...ted=print&_r=0
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