Brewer and Lee read questions on Martha Stark's recommendations and primary residency
The chairs ask whether DOF agrees with former Commissioner Stark's recommendations including publishing a filtered list, providing more specific notices, and creating an online tool. They also question why homeowners must prove residency again if they already receive the co-op/condo abatement.
Number five, former Finance Commissioner Martha Stark has recommended, as you heard earlier, several steps finance could take to address the problems with the rollout.
Does finance agree with the following recommendation, and does it intend to implement any of them going forward?
A, publish a list limited to properties that meet the statutory market value thresholds while making clear that meeting the threshold does not necessarily mean the tax applies.
B, provide property owners with more specific notices explaining why they're
property was not initially identified as a primary residence and what documentation they need to submit based on their circumstances.
C, create an online tool that allows property owners to check whether finance has identified their property as subject to the tax, potentially, without requiring the code provided in the mailed notice.
Okay, the next set of questions is around primary residence determinations.
The city already administers multiple programs that require proof of primary residency.
A, why must homeowners prove residency again if they already received the cooperative and condominium property tax abatement?
B, did DOF evaluate automatically exempting homeowners already verified through existing programs?
And C, why wasn't information already possessed by the city leveraged to reduce unnecessary filings?