Letter to the Editor

This statement is about the article that was published in your paper on 11/9/2023.

Title of the article was “When a window unit is assessed as central air” by Ed Kdonian.

My reaction is that the article should have stated the story is about a split air conditioner being compared to central air in a home. The position taken by the assessor’s office in the City of Cranston is that they are assessing a home with a split the same as a home with central air.

When approached the assessor refused to acknowledge the difference between a system

with a split and central air that cost three times as much to install and reaches through a venting system to every room in a home. Why the word “Central” is used. Any air conditioning company will assess the size of the rooms and the volume of space in the room

before recommending a unit with the appropriate BTU’s for cooling the space. If a room has

a cathedral or higher ceiling the volume changes compared to a home with the typical ceiling height. The company will also explain that a split is not made to bring air over a long distance

or around corners moving air from one room to another. This is where central air is recommended.

The assessing company should be trained to see the difference between an outside compressor

for a split and one for central air. Anyone who is looking to purchase or build a home with central air will know the difference in price and the value of having central air. The City of Cranston has taken it upon themselves to establish a ruling that the split and central are to be rated the same, therefore charging the homeowner the same price. When I approached the

assessor’s office I was told that if I was not happy, I could go before the board of assessors and

present my case. I filled out the paperwork and presented to the board the evidence showing that I had a split for one room in my home. At the beginning of my presentation the city assessor who was also at the meeting said that he had no intention of changing my assessment.

Why would the city make a homeowner go through the trouble of presenting a case to the board when the case is a dead issue from the beginning of the presentation.

Homeowners who have a split in their homes are being overcharged by the city of Cranston for

something that they do not possess. The assessor representing the city has full authority to determine what is right and wrong, even when the evidence show that he is wrong. Why is the Mayor’s office and the members of the City Council allowing this inaccurate and unfair situation to continue? Why are residences of Cranston being taken advantage of when the excess of money that are paying could be used for other necessities in life.? This is the heart of the article.

Alex Caserta