Board of Assessors

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS

8:00 AM

STARBARD BUILDING

 

Members Present: Rosemary Scully, James Dillon, and Robert Fitzgerald

1.  Acceptance of Minutes

Motion was made by Rosemary Scully, and seconded by James Dillon.  It was voted to approve the minutes of the October 26, 2015 meeting.

 

2.  Tax Rate Set

Rosemary Scully and Lori Rose met with Andrew Nelson from the Department of Revenue on Tuesday, October 27 to review the Recap Sheet and supporting documentation in order to set the Fiscal Year 2016 Tax Rate. 

Tax Classification Public Hearing:  was held on November 2, 2015 in Memorial Hall.  The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the property tax levy to be borne by each property class.  There are five classes of property.  A community has the option of choosing a “residential factor” that result in a single rate for all the property classes. Or there can be a shift of the tax rate within the classes.  This process must take place annually before a community can set a tax rate.  Rosemary Scully informed the Board of Selectmen the Residential properties were at 94 percent share of the levy, while Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property were at 6 percent.  Therefore the Board of Assessors was recommending a “single tax rate” The change in value for the average single family home is now valued at $278,326 up from $266,093in Fiscal Year 2015. The average tax bill will decrease $20.39. The Selectmen voted unanimously to maintain a single tax rate.

The Tax Rate of $17.25 was approved by the Department of Revenue on November 4, 2015. 

 

3.  Actual Tax Bills:

The Actual Tax Bills for Fiscal Year 2015 will be mailed on December 31, 2015.

The Assessor’s office will have the tax file completed for the Collectors by Friday.  

 

4.  Other Business:

 Exemptions are included in the “Actual Tax” bills if they were entered in the system for Fiscal Year 2015, and applications received by the date of preparing the tax bill file.  Those submitted and approved after will receive certificates and their real estate tax will be reduced accordingly Exemption certificates will be mailed on December 31, 2015.  Taxpayers have 90 days from the issuance of the actual tax bill in which to file for real estate exemptions.

Other Business

Discussed goals for Fiscal Year 2017 and Fiscal Year 2016.   We continue to work on Condominium records, updating sketching and record requirements, inspecting and confirming all data. Classified Land Properties are being reviewed.  Land parcels acquired by the State area in the process of being appraised by the State to be included in our Stateland valuation for Fiscal Year 2017. Continue to work on Directives for Fiscal Year 2017 set forth from Department of Revenue Fiscal Year 2014 reval.

 

6.  Next Meeting Date

Our next meeting will be held on Monday, January 25, 2016 at 8:00 A.M.

Respectfully Submitted:  Rosemary Scully, MAA

     

APPROVED:   _____1/25/16_______