Levels of Assessment (LOA)
Percentage of Full Value at which properties are assessed.
The Assessor determines at which percentage of Market Value properties are assessed. A LOA of 100% means the Assessed Value and Market Value are the same, with no adjustments necessary. NYS law requires that properties within an Assessment Jurisdiction have a uniform level of assessment – the LOA is the same for all property types and properties. The City of Rochester’s LOA for 2024-25 is 100%.
To ensure that all properties in the State are taxed in an equitable manner, in the numerous taxing jurisdictions, New York State's Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS) compares market data to assessed valuations. The Assessor analyzes data as well, to determine when Assessments require updating through a Reassessment to reflect Market Values.
Equalization Rate (ER)
An equalization rate is New York State's measure of a municipality's level of assessment.
Total Assessed Value divided by Total Market Value equals the Equalization Rate. The City of Rochester’s Equalization Rate for 2024-25 is 100%.
Residential Assessment Ratio (RAR)
The Residential Assessment Ratio (RAR) is an indication of the level of assessment for residential real property in a municipality. It is a measurement of the overall ratio of the total assessed value of residential property in the municipality compared to the full market value of that residential property. The RAR (Residential Assessment Ratio) can be used by homeowners in a Board of Assessment Review (BAR) grievance and in a Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) hearing.
NYS calculates the RAR annually for use by the Assessor as a general measure of equity showing how residential Assessments compare to Market Values. A decreasing (RAR) indicates that Market Values are rising faster than Assessments. The City's RAR for 2024-25 is 100%
