Some Greece Lakeshore residents aren’t happy with the assessment letters from the town they found in their mailboxes over the weekend regarding their properties.

Steve Hicks owns a lakeshore home off Edgemere Drive, a home he hasn’t been able to live in since massive flooding in 2017.

“Look at this, all black mold," Hicks said. "I know that stuff can be cleaned up, but it’s my foundation that’s shot, and the water level that’s way over.”

Yet the Greece town assessor’s office say his property has risen in value $7,000, an increase that could mean higher taxes.

“Plus $7,000, and for what? A flooded out trashed home I can’t live in.” Hicks said.

His neighbor Joe Burgio saw a $25,000 increase in his assessment, while also dealing with the ramifications of flooding in his home.

“We paid $96,000, we killed our 401k in 2017, and now this is 18-months later and I’m already on the hook for about $1,100 in materials,” Burgio said.

Both say flooding wasn’t a problem before 2017, and there’s now the threat of more to come with high water levels.

“We’re talking about businesses that are going to suffer again," Hicks said. "We’re talking about homeowners that are already being flooded, even down by me.”

That includes Burgio, whose basement is flooded.

“And people wonder why we freak, and then you want to reassess us and raise our taxes?” Burgio said.

However, Greece Town Assessor Richard Baart says a higher assessment doesn’t necessarily mean higher taxes.

“The taxes in the town of Greece have, in fact gone, down the last nine years, and last year historically too,” Baart said.

Though there may be exceptions to that in certain special or fire districts like Lakeshore, Baart says Greece was still one of many towns that made state-approved allowances following the flooding.

“Those towns not only got assessment relief, but certainly benefitted from the grants and other reinvestment and infrastructure the town made along the lakefront,” Baart said.

And he says nearly all lakefront property values haven’t been affected by the flooding.

“Our properties along the lakefront are selling significantly over the assessed value of those properties, which indicates they are under-assessed.” Baart said.

Still, Hicks and Burgio don’t even like the possibility of their taxes and mortgages going up, when there’s the threat of more flooding to come. They just want a solution to ensure their houses are home.

“I could be a registered Democrat, but if a Republican rolls up his sleeves, good for you," Hicks said. "It’s not about parties to me anymore. It’s about people.”

If you feel your property is overtaxed, there is something you can do about it. For most towns, Tuesday May 28 is Grievance Day, the deadline to submit Form RP-524 and the day when you can present your case to the Board of Assessment Review. Most appointments are about 15 minutes, but check with your town’s website in advance. For more information, visit this website.