Fairfield residents challenge steep assessment increases; board urges certified appraisals

Fairfield residents spent hours on the record asking the Board of Assessment Appeals to lower recent property valuations, arguing that town appraisals outpaced nearby closed sales and sometimes ignored property-specific limits on renovation.

Laura O'Brien, who identified herself as a member of the board, repeatedly told petitioners the appeals are reviewed by the full seven-member board and the town assessor later in the month and advised that independent, certified real-estate appraisals or mortgage appraisal reports strengthen an appeal file. "If you have an independent appraisal, deliver it to the assessor and have him put it with your property package," O'Brien said.

Several owners cited comparable sales and mortgage appraisals. James Peshy III told the board that he purchased his home in October 2024 for $810,000 and that the mortgage appraisal matched that sale price; he asked the board to record that evidence to support a requested assessment of $820,800 instead of the town's $883,700. Similarly, a couple appealing 591 South Benson Road said seven closed sales in the local beach area had prices well below the town's appraisal and asked the board to lower the assessment to about $787,000.

One resident who purchased a property in July 2025 said the assessed land value more than doubled — from roughly $133,630 to $277,616 — a 108% increase that the owner described as "egregious." The board member explained that sales of land for redevelopment can raise townwide land benchmarks and encouraged the owner to provide any bank or mortgage appraisal to the assessor. "If you can make a copy of it and deliver it to the town assessor and tell him to put it in your file, that will help," O'Brien said.

Other common complaints included: inconsistent land-to-total-assessment ratios between neighboring lots, town field-card entries that petitioners said omitted finished-basement area or misrepresented above-grade living area, and site-specific constraints such as underground water lines that limit expansions. Melissa Strauss pointed to a town water line under her property that she says restricts renovations and said an "aquarium" letter documenting conditions would be submitted to the assessor to support her requested reduction from the town's value of $1,019,905 to an independent assessment of $970,000.

Board members and staff repeatedly told petitioners that automated online estimates (for example, Zillow) are useful context but carry less weight than a certified appraisal. Petitioners were advised to print and deliver appraisal documents or comp evidence to the assessor's office promptly; staff noted the board will process roughly 911 appeals and emphasized that added documentation makes it easier for the assessor and the full board to review cases.

The board made no final decisions at the session; O'Brien said the appeals would be considered at the full-board review later in the month, after which petitioners will be notified by mail of any adjustments. Until the town finalizes the grand list and mill rate, changes do not affect tax bills immediately, and any adjusted assessment typically appears on the next mailed tax notice.