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Deroscher disputes assessments; told he cannot grieve recent purchase without prior‑owner permission
Summary
James Deroscher challenged assessments on Miller Place and Cold River Road properties, citing a purchase price of about $160,000 for Miller Place and invoices for a steel building; listers agreed to inspect Miller Place but said he cannot grieve 2735 Cold River Road for the current year because he did not own it on April 1 and must obtain written permission from the previous owner.
James Deroscher appeared before the Town of Rutland listers July 23 to contest assessed values for multiple parcels. For 37 Miller Place he said the purchase price was roughly $160,000 and that he has invested in improvements, including a recently installed steel building for which he presented an invoice. Listers said purchase price is one input to valuation and asked Deroscher to provide comparable sales or other evidence; they agreed to make copies of his documentation and conduct a field inspection.
Deroscher also raised a grievance for 2735 Cold River Road, which he said he bought about three weeks earlier from Charlie and Nancy Flanders. Listers advised that a taxpayer cannot contest the assessment for a tax year unless they owned the property on the valuation date (April 1); they told Deroscher he would need written permission from the prior owners to pursue a grievance for that year or to wait until the next valuation cycle. The listers offered to schedule an inspection for the next April or to visit sooner if physical changes were completed.
No formal change to any assessment was made at the hearing; listers will copy Deroscher’s supporting documents and follow up with an inspection schedule.
