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Niagara Falls has announced it will be holding a tax sale later this year. We pay our property taxes. 3,000 property owners are behind and must either bring them current or face losing title at a tax sale.
The truth is, even in New York, one of the highest taxed states in the nation, school, county and city taxes in Niagara Falls are among the highest in the state. That’s right we choose to live in the highest taxed community in the highest taxed state in the nation.
What’s more is that the tax roll is a mess because there hasn’t been a reassessment since 1994. That makes things horrifically inequitable.
The current equalization rate is 34% of full market value. That means if your home could sell tomorrow for $200,000, your assessment is $68,000.
Now consider you live in DeVeaux and own a comparable home in Clarence where the assessment roll is at 90% of Full Market Value. Let’s say your Clarence home is valued at $400,000. For tax it is valued at $360,000.
I won’t go further on the math, but understand some truths:
- Clarence Schools have the benefit of more college-educated, two-parent families. Those socioeconomics lead to academic success as measured by standardized tests.
- Proportionally, property taxes are about equal. Our taxes in Clarence and Niagara Falls were even when we moved. Clarence’s have gone up since while Niagara Falls has been stable.
- The quality of life, from nature to walkability, drivability and diversity is better in Niagara Falls and, from my perspective, it is not close. Niagara Falls affords a higher quality of living according to things we value.
- As an investment, over the last 50 years, Clarence was superior. Over the next 30 years, Niagara Falls will be.
If you want to research a property, here is a link to the city Website. You can also search comparable properties by sale price or assessed value. If you think your property is inequitably assessed, there is even a tool to view comparable properties and a process for challenging. Here is a link to the Niagara Falls tax roll. https://cityofniagarafalls.prosgar.com/
The city had no foreclosure sale from 2020 to 2022 because of a moratorium caused by covid. Then a court challenge caused a further delay until late 2023. Three years later, the city is ready to move forward
Here is the press release announcing the beginnning of the collection process.
NIAGARA FALLS, NY – The City of Niagara Falls has issued approximately 3,000 letters to property owners across the City who are delinquent in paying their taxes. The City estimates that delinquent property taxes total in the millions of dollars. Property owners that do not make payment in full by June 30, 2026 will see their properties enter foreclosure.
“The amount of outstanding property taxes is almost one-third of our total 2026 fiscal year budget so even recouping a portion of the outstanding amount due to the City would have a significant and positive impact on our budget outlook,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino. “This is a matter that is not unique to Niagara Falls as cities across the region and the state face the same dilemma of property owners who are not making property tax payments leaving municipalities with no choice but to foreclose on properties.”
The letters, issued by the City of Niagara Falls Billing and Collections Department, require that property owners send payment for all city taxes owed since 2023 as well as unpaid prior years. Payments must be made in full with checks paid to the order of the City Controller.
The letter also requires that property owners pay all outstanding school taxes for 2024 and 2025 and unpaid prior years with checks payable to the order of the School District Treasurer.
“There is no further grace period and, if payments are not made by June 30th, the properties will be foreclosed,” the Mayor said. “The City will then auction those properties through a competitive bidding process.”
For more information, please contact the Billing and Collections Department at 716-286-4350.
