Michael Schmer
Board of Assessment Appeals
My wife, son (who is now a senior at the university of Rhode Island), daughter (who is a freshman at Penn State) and I moved here in 2003 from Melville, NY. I am a partner in an insurance agency located in Long Island and even though the commute is a bit longer than when we lived in Melville I honestly do not mind it at all since Ridgefield is such a beautiful town that has much to offer to all.
Some of my past and current interests include coaching both local and travel baseball teams, skiing, exceeding, and walking my dog Chloe.
What office are you running for?
What are the main issues facing the Board of Assessment Appeals?
Board of Assessment Appeals
My thought on this is that many people feel that they are paying too much in real estate taxes, however most don't understand the process behind how they are actually assessed and how property values are determined. I feel that people would be more understanding if they understood the process better.
Why are you the right candidate for BAA this year?
I am the right candidate for the job because I have experience dealing with people and towns. I served as the president of the board of a 248 unit homeowners association when we lived in Melville, NY. We put together many projects in the 9 years I served and we had to not only obtain resident permission but often had to deal with local town boards.
What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
I hope to represent the board as fairly as possible. Many people may feel that they are paying too much, but need to have the reasoning to back up why they feel that way. I would like those that may have their appeals rejected to understand why, and if they have the opportunity to appeal again they in fact can appeal successfully.