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Questions about property taxes?

By Claude Haton

GREENE COUNTY — Since 1978, Frank J. Algozzine has seen many changes in the way county taxes have been processed. As the former director of the Greene County Real Property Tax Services Department, the workload borne by him and his staff has grown at a steady pace along with their responsibilities.

Algozzine retired from his position as director Aug. 1, and said he leaves the department in good hands: “I feel like two bags of cement have been lifted from my shoulders” since making the decision to depart, he said.

“But as stressful as it’s been at times,” he added, “it’s been a great job.

“I’ve always had a private sector mentality,” Algozzine said Thursday at his office. “In the private sector, you’ve got to work to survive. You always put the customer first. You always try to do better.”

A graduate of Hudson Valley Community College, Algozzine first took a job with the county as a tax map technician when the county was preparing to reorganize the department.

“I’ll never forget I started on Valentines Day in 1978,” Algozzine recalled. After college, he originally intended to work for the NYS Department of Conservation, but all their job offers would have taken him far from home.

“I’ve always been a Cairo boy,” he said — and in fact still lives there. “I’ve always tried to live locally because I love the area.”

Taking the tax map tech job with the county was a no-brainer for him, Algozzine explained. It was well suited to his love for math, science and the outdoors. “When I heard the county was going to get involved in tax mapping, I knew they were going to need (skilled) people to do that,” he said.

Algozzine was also in the process of getting his land surveyor’s license and had several years experience working with a small engineering firm. “I was a natural to come in and do that job,” he said.

By 1981, tax mapping had become the full responsibility of the county and Algozzine quickly moved up the ranks, first as a tech, then as tax map supervisor, deputy director, and then director in 1981. He’s held that position for 27 years.

It was that year the county legislature directed him to fill out his department and take over all tax billing and assessments for the county. At the same time, Algozzine was taking steps to computerize the billing system.

But Algozzine doesn’t take all the credit.

“I’ve been fortunate to have an incredible staff,” he noted. He also credits early support on the county level from former county attorney George Pulver and former county administrator Fred Flach.

Algozzine expects one of his staffers, Laura VanValkenburg, to be named interim director with his retirement. The county will still have to interview for the job, however, and the new director will still have to meet state requirements to achieve the position.

One county official who has a long history with Algozzine is Cairo Legislator William Lawrence, a member of the county’s Finance Committee.

“He’s always been very easy to deal with,” Lawrence said. “He’s always been knowledgeable and meticulous in his work.”

The Cairo legislator recalled how hard Algozzine worked when the state switched to the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) method of tracking properties, where the county took over the tax roll billing responsibilities for all the towns, schools and villages in the county. The GIS replaced the 600-plus mylar maps the county had been working from with a computer database.

“We’re going to miss him because he’s going to be a tough act to follow,” Lawrence said. “I wish we could have talked him into staying longer.

“When he came to us with recommendations, his word was like gold,” Lawrence continued. “His judgment was sound. I don’t feel you’ll find anyone like him in the state.”

Others feel the same. Among the numerous awards that have been bestowed upon Algozzine is the President’s Award from the NYS County Directors of Real Property Tax Services, an honor that is not given lightly.

Again, he acknowledges his staff in developing the efficiency and tenor of their department. “When you come in here, we treat you like we owe you something, and we do,” Algozzine said. “The taxpayers of Greene County deserve it.”

In fact, Algozzine will be offering his services to the public when he begins work with Darrin Elsom and Ewald Schwarzenegger at Kaaterskill Associates in Cairo.

In addition to assisting the engineering and surveying firm in their endeavors, Algozzine plans to offer low-cost and even no-cost property and school tax consultation for area residents. Residents with questions about their assessments will be able to obtain unbiased advice from someone who knows the ins and outs of government taxation methods intimately.

“What I’m hoping to do is provide people a comfort level with what they’re paying,” he said.

Married since 1975 to his wife, Shirley, Algozzine has two grown sons, Keith and Tim. An avid outdoorsman, he exercises regularly and appears fit, trim and younger than his 57 years.

Algozzine’s primary hobby is fly fishing. “I love going to the mountains, to the Schoharie or Bataviakill creeks, to fish with the mountains in view,” he said.

A proponent of catch and release, Algozzine ties his own flies and enjoys the pursuit in degrees.

“If you can get the fly out there and fool the fish into going for it, even if it misses, you’ve already achieved one level of success,” he said. Hooking a fish, even if it gets off, represents another level of achievement. Landing one equals the full monty, even though he will release it within moments.

“Fly fishing is just great,” he said warmly.

Algozzine was feted with a going away party just days before his retirement. Friends, coworkers and even State Sen. James L. Seward attended the event. Seward thanked Algozzine for his years of dedication and presented him with a commendation for his service.

On Thursday, Algozzine had both advice and kind words for all county employees. “The bottom line is, county employees need to appreciate what they have and hold that bar high,” Algozzine noted. “The expertise that so many county employees have shouldn’t be taken for granted. I feel I am leaving the county in good hands.”

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