City Council Assessment Record (2021–2026)

We read all 150 City Council meeting minutes from January 2021 to June 2026. In none of them does the council debate the assessment freeze, the equalization rate, or a citywide reassessment. What does come up is a steady trickle of "tax certiorari" cases. A big property owner sues, saying its assessment is too high. The city settles, quietly. Homeowners have no lawyers on retainer. Their one route is the grievance process.

What the Record Shows
No public debate about the assessment freeze. We searched all 150 sets of minutes from January 2021 to June 2026. Four subjects never come up: the assessment freeze, the equalization rate, a citywide reassessment, and whether today's assessments are right. The Council never votes on them, debates them, or is handed a resolution about them. As a policy question, the freeze is simply not on the record.
Large property owners go to court instead. Walgreens, Nexstar Broadcasting, Community Bank and others filed tax certiorari cases. That is a lawsuit claiming your assessment is too high. Most end with the city agreeing to lower it. The city's lawyer, the Corporation Counsel, settles the case, and the Council approves the settlement. Nobody at the meeting asks whether the original assessment was right. A homeowner has no legal department and no equivalent route. What a homeowner has is the grievance process.
The assessor of 18 years retired, then joined the board that reviews his own assessments. Bruce Stanko had been Elmira's assessor since at least 2007. He retired March 31, 2025, and Michelle Murray replaced him. In May 2026 the Council appointed Stanko to the Board of Assessment Review. That is the board that hears homeowners who challenge an assessment he set.
Notable Items
Assessment-related votes found in the minutes, 2021–2026.
April 6, 2026
Walgreen Eastern Co. / Cole WG Elmira — Tax Certiorari Settlement
The city settled a tax certiorari case over its assessment of 402 N. Main Street, the Walgreens on Main Street. The challenge covered five tax years, 2021/2022 through 2025/2026. The minutes do not give the settlement terms.
7–0
Minutes PDF ↓ Agenda Packet ↗
May 4, 2026
RAD NY LLC — Tax Certiorari Settlement + Stanko to Board of Assessment Review
The city settled a tax certiorari case brought by RAD NY LLC, an affordable housing operator. At the same meeting the Council appointed Bruce Stanko to the Board of Assessment Review, filling out a term that ends September 30, 2026. Stanko was City Assessor for 18 years and retired March 31, 2025. The board hears property owners who challenge their assessment.
6–0
Minutes PDF ↓ Agenda Packet ↗
November 3, 2025
Community Bank N.A. + Nexstar Broadcasting — Tax Certiorari Settlements
The city settled two tax certiorari cases. One was brought by Community Bank N.A., the other by Nexstar Broadcasting, which owns WETM-TV at 101 E. Market Street. The minutes do not give the terms.
6–0
Minutes PDF ↓ Agenda Packet ↗
April 7, 2025
Michelle Murray Appointed City Assessor; Bruce Stanko Retires
The Council made Michelle L. Murray City Assessor as of March 31, 2025. Her salary is $83,526 a year. Bruce A. Stanko, assessor for 18 years, retired the same day. The Council also passed a resolution thanking him.
7–0
Minutes PDF ↓ Agenda Packet ↗
November 21, 2022
Chemung Canal Trust Company — Tax Certiorari Settlement
The city settled a tax certiorari case brought by Chemung Canal Trust Company. The minutes show an earlier multi-year challenge from the same bank in March 2021. The terms are not given.
4–0 (3 members absent)
Minutes PDF ↓ Agenda Packet ↗
May 10, 2021
Floral Beauty Greenhouses — Tax Certiorari Settlement (Contested)
Settlement of a tax certiorari proceeding brought by Floral Beauty Greenhouses, LLC. The item was pulled from the agenda on April 26, 2021 ("Withdrawn From Agenda"), then came back and passed on May 10. Councilmember Brent Stermer cast the lone no vote. It is the only certiorari settlement in five years of minutes that anyone voted against. The minutes give no reason for his objection.
6–1 Stermer: No
Minutes PDF ↓ Agenda Packet ↗ Apr 26 withdrawal ↓
March 15, 2021
TG-CoTops / Former Tops Supermarket — Tax Certiorari Settlement
The city settled a tax certiorari case involving TG-Co, the old Tops supermarket site. The vote was unanimous. The terms are not given.
7–0
Minutes PDF ↓ Agenda Packet ↗
All Meeting Minutes (2021–2026)
150 meetings. Minutes PDFs are archived locally. Agenda packets link to the City's Granicus server. Records here start in January 2021, the earliest Granicus makes available.
Show:
Date Minutes Agenda Packet Notes
2026-06-01PDF ↓Packet ↗assessor Mark Twain golf operations
2026-05-18PDF ↓Packet ↗
2026-05-04PDF ↓Packet ↗certiorari RAD NY settlement; Stanko appointed to BAR
2026-04-20PDF ↓Packet ↗
2026-04-06PDF ↓Packet ↗certiorari Walgreen (402 N. Main St), 5-year challenge
2026-03-23PDF ↓Packet ↗
2026-03-09PDF ↓Packet ↗
2026-02-23PDF ↓Packet ↗
2026-02-12PDF ↓Packet ↗Special meeting (12:15 PM)
2026-02-09PDF ↓Packet ↗
2026-01-26PDF ↓Packet ↗
2026-01-12PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-12-29PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-12-15PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-12-01PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-11-17PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-11-03PDF ↓Packet ↗certiorari Community Bank + Nexstar settlements
2025-10-20PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-10-06PDF ↓Packet ↗BAR Board of Assessment Review appointment(s)
2025-09-22PDF ↓Packet ↗BAR BAR appointment; Chemung Canal mentioned
2025-09-08PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-08-25PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-08-11PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-07-28PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-07-14PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-06-30PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-06-16PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-06-02PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-05-19PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-05-05PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-04-21PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-04-07PDF ↓Packet ↗assessor Murray appointed; Stanko retires (18 years)
2025-03-24PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-03-14PDF ↓Packet ↗Special meeting (12:00 PM)
2025-03-10PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-02-24PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-02-10PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-01-27PDF ↓Packet ↗
2025-01-13PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-12-30PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-12-16PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-12-02PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-11-18PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-11-04PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-10-21PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-10-07PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-09-23PDF ↓Packet ↗BAR Board of Assessment Review appointment
2024-09-09PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-08-26PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-08-12PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-07-29PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-07-15PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-07-01PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-06-17PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-06-03PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-05-20PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-05-06PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-05-02PDF ↓Packet ↗Special meeting (10:45 AM)
2024-04-22PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-04-08PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-03-25PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-03-11PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-02-26PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-02-12PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-01-29PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-01-16PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-01-02PDF ↓Packet ↗
2024-01-01PDF ↓Packet ↗Reorganizational meeting (1:00 PM)
2023-12-18PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-12-04PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-11-20PDF ↓Packet ↗BAR Board of Assessment Review appointment
2023-11-06PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-10-23PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-10-10PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-09-25PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-09-11PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-08-28PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-08-14PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-07-31PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-07-17PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-07-03PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-06-29PDF ↓Packet ↗Special meeting (11:00 AM)
2023-06-20PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-06-05PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-05-22PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-05-08PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-04-24PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-04-10PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-03-27PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-03-13PDF ↓Packet ↗BAR Board of Assessment Review appointment
2023-02-27PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-02-13PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-01-30PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-01-17PDF ↓Packet ↗
2023-01-03PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-12-19PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-12-05PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-11-21PDF ↓Packet ↗certiorari Chemung Canal Trust settlement
2022-11-07PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-10-24PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-10-11PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-09-26PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-09-12PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-08-29PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-08-15PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-08-01PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-07-18PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-07-05PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-06-21PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-06-06PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-05-31PDF ↓Packet ↗Special meeting (4:30 PM)
2022-05-23PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-05-09PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-04-25PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-04-11PDF ↓Packet ↗BAR Board of Assessment Review / assessor action
2022-03-28PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-03-14PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-02-28PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-02-14PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-01-31PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-01-18PDF ↓Packet ↗
2022-01-03PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-12-20PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-12-06PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-11-22PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-11-08PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-10-25PDF ↓Packet ↗BAR Board of Assessment Review / assessor action
2021-10-12PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-09-27PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-09-13PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-08-30PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-08-16PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-08-03PDF ↓Packet ↗Special meeting
2021-08-02PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-07-19PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-07-06PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-06-21PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-06-07PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-05-10PDF ↓Packet ↗certiorari 6–1 Floral Beauty Greenhouses — Stermer dissents
2021-04-26PDF ↓Packet ↗certiorari Floral Beauty — WITHDRAWN from agenda
2021-04-12PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-03-29PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-03-15PDF ↓Packet ↗certiorari TG-CoTops (former Tops supermarket) settlement
2021-03-09PDF ↓Packet ↗Special meeting (2:00 PM)
2021-03-01PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-02-16PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-02-01PDF ↓Packet ↗
2021-02-01 (2:30 PM)PDF ↓Packet ↗Special meeting
2021-01-19PDF ↓Packet ↗Reorganizational meeting

Source: City of Elmira Granicus archive. We saved copies of the minutes PDFs in June 2026. Agenda packet links point at the City's own server, so they may change over time. Records before 2021 may exist in Granicus, but the public index does not reach them.