Thomas-Braggs Earns Highest Assessor Certification

YONKERS – Mayor Mike Spano recently announced that Lynette Thomas-Braggs, Assessor for the City of Yonkers, has been awarded the prestigious designation of State Certified Assessor Professionalby the Institute of Assessing Officers (IAO), the educational arm of the New York State Assessors Association (NYSAA).

“This is a tremendous honor for both Lynette and the City of Yonkers,” said Mayor Spano. “Her achievement reflects the highest standards of professionalism, education, and expertise in the field of property assessment. We are fortunate to have someone of her caliber ensuring fairness and equity for our residents.

Assessors play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of our local tax system by ensuring that property values are assessed accurately and fairly. The IAO designation—the highest professional certification in New York State—signifies that an assessor has met rigorous standards of training and experience, providing taxpayers with confidence in the fairness of their assessments.

The New York State Assessors Association, founded in 1940, established the Institute of Assessing Officers in 1958 to advance professionalism through education. Since receiving its permanent charter from the New York State Board of Regents in 1963, the IAO has led the way in assessor training through seminars, appraisal courses, and its annual Cornell Seminar on Appraising.

“It is my hope to continue the Assessment Department’s mission of striving for fair, equitable, and transparent property values,” commented Yonkers City Assessor, Lynette Thomas-Braggs. “The Assessment Team is composed of professional and knowledgeable clerks, real property appraisers, mapping specialists, secretarial staff, and analytical support personnel who assist taxpayers with exemption and property value needs, while also providing service to the City of Yonkers, as well as County and State agencies.”