By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Residents in the Proctor Avenue area voiced outrage at a Monday meeting as assessments there rose $2.5 million across just 165 properties.

Among those speaking out against the assessments was Matthew Honeywell who said his assessment was being raised by $56,000 over its current value. Honeywell saw one of the steepest increases, with his home valued at $84,000 in 2015, the increase is around 60 percent.

He estimated the assessment change would raise his taxes by about $250 per month. Honeywell said he has a wife and two children in a single income home and while he is happy to pay his fair share of taxes, the increase is too much.

“$250 a month is something I can’t swing right now,” he said.

Cheryl Ladouceur also saw a steep increase. She said her assessment rose by nearly $33,000 or about 33 percent.

“I’m outraged by the approach of the assessor,” she said while calling on the city to establish a more fair and equitable approach.

Several residents in attendance, including Doug Loffler, asked the city to place a cap on how much assessments could be raised in a given year. He suggested increases over certain percentages be phased in gradually, so that residents aren’t hit with volatile jumps in their tax bills.

However, City Attorney Andrew Silver said any such laws enacted by the council would not be implemented this year. He said because the tentative roll is set, the city’s hands are tied until next year.

Silver and City Assessor Bruce Green instructed citizens of the proper channel for grieving taxes. The first option begins with an informal meeting with Green, where residents can make a case as to why their assessments should not increase by the margins identified by the assessor.

The second is a formal process, where residents make similar arguments to the grievance board.

Silver said if no resolution is found during the grievance process, property owners can then take legal action. However, he said they must attend the grievance meeting prior to doing so.

In May, Green said the assessments on the non-waterfront properties in the Proctor Avenue neighborhood were assessed far below recent selling prices. He said that 24 sales occurred in the neighborhood over the last three years.

On average Green said assessments in the area rose 17.5 percent. But noted some properties would see increases of 50 to 70 percent.

Green said about 30 parcels saw no change or went down. Those hit the hardest saw assessments rising by more than $50,000.

Most houses in the area are now in the $120,000 to $180,000 range these days, according to Green.

Those hoping to fight their assessments will be able to do so June 21 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.