Assessor outlines phase‑in notices, offers grand‑list data and reval planning

Tax Assessor Paul presented the tax assessor’s budget on March 9 and described the elements driving line‑item changes, the headcount posture and what members should expect ahead of the next revaluation cycle.

Paul said the department sought reductions where unused funds existed and that one of two previously open positions was relinquished, leaving one vacancy. He explained a visible uptick in printing and duplication is tied to a phase‑in mailing requirement: because many property owners will see increased assessments under the phase‑in, the office must send notices broadly this year and next, similar to a revaluation mailing.

Regarding counts and valuation base, Paul provided approximate figures in reply to members’ questions: “There’s approximately 77,000 cars,” roughly 2,200 commercial accounts (he noted uncertainty between 2,200 and 2,800) and a grand list of about 29,636 properties with roughly 26,000 residential parcels. He offered to email members an abstract with definitive breakdowns and agreed to work with staff on a requested five‑year trend (one year pre‑reval, the reval year, and two years after) that would show units and gross values for motor vehicles, commercial and residential segments.

On revaluation planning, Paul said the next reval (2028) is expected to be a statistical reval — fewer door‑to‑door inspections and more sampling — and cautioned that while recent commercial projects could shift the tax burden, strong residential growth and conversions make predictions uncertain. He characterized the current mix as roughly neutral pending a full data run.

Next steps: Paul will provide the abstract and work with Jared and Tom on the requested five‑year trend and on a short list of enterprise‑zone properties with abatements and their terms so the board can evaluate how those abatements may influence grand‑list composition in coming years.