Attorneys representing Clarkstown and the Palisades Center in West Nyack finished presenting their testimony this past week on the but it could be months before a decision is made on the property tax appeal for 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Palisades Center filed a challenge to its Town of Clarkstown and Clarkstown School District property tax assessments for those three years in Rockland County Supreme Court. The 42 parcels that make up the shopping center in West Nyack had an assessed value of $252,958,700 for each one of those years.
Clarkstown Town Supervisor Alex Gromack said it could be the fall before the judge begins to review the case. More than two weeks of courtroom testimony before Judge Margaret Garvey came to a conclusion on May 30.
“The case has been presented,” said Gromack. “That’s done.”
According to Gromack, now the exchange of legal paperwork takes place. In about 30 days transcripts from the testimony will be provided to both sides. Then they are permitted 90 days to exchange briefs and 30 days more to review them.
“Realistically a judge might not start to review until November,” said Gromack on Saturday.
If judge begins to review the case until November, it could take an additional three or four months until a decision is issued. That means it is possible that it could be early 2013 before the case is decided.
The mall property must have lost value like every one else's, so they have a gripe. I think they wiil get a modest reduction adjustment. In the future in good times the tax will go up again. The malls' not going anywhere. I remember when people didn't want the mall, now they cant live without it. If I'm not mistaken North Rockland raised taxes on Mirant in antisipation of increased use and a third generator being built. Increased and spent tax money on speculation, the third generator never got built. Now I think Genon is going to close it down. No one has asked it to produce any more power and were runing lines from Canada right passed it for Gods sake. And yet people say we can't live without its tax money......We make our own beds.