Tuesday represents the last day Suffolk residents can challenge their weighty tax bills.

Homeowners rushed the 10 town tax assessor offices across the county in order to submit their grievance paperwork on time.

Joanne Ulrich, whose Stony Brook home is set for more than $12,000 in taxes this year, filed at Brookhaven Town Hall.

"I would be happy even if it was $1,000 less, $2,000 less," Ulrich said. "It's excessive."

With the slowdown in the housing market, Brookhaven Assessor John Ryan said this is the year to petition for a tax decrease. However, only 3,000 of last year's 13,000 grievance applications in the Town of Brookhaven went before a judge for review. About 1,500 of those were approved for a reduction that averaged around 8 percent, Ryan said.

The deadline in Nassau County has already passed.