Reporting from Monday, June 2, 2008 :

Real Property Tax Assessments

From the June 2 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

The Assessors’ Report said County Real Property Tax Services had received a grant to study the possibility of future assessments being done on a county-wide rather than individual town basis.  Councilperson Edwards also reported that the County Real Property Tax Services Agency was looking to post each town’s final 2008 tax roll on their own website after July 1, 2008; some town supervisors are proposing not posting personal exemption information and possible exclusion of the owners’ name(s).  The agency is also considering putting together and posting a sales report to allow research about comparable properties.  Audience member Audrey Koran commented on the long waits at Grievance Day this year; she asked that consideration be given to having separate days or appointments for professionals who are representing 10 or 12 parcels which they don’t themselves own.

Reporting from Monday, May 5, 2008 :

Assessors’ Report

From the May 5 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Assessor Art Griffith reported that every primary residence saw an increase (8-12% was average) as did woodland.  The town’s STAR reimbursement is the highest in the County as a result of the assessors’ attempt to keep assessments at 100% of market value.

Website Posting of Local Assessment Rolls

From the May 5 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Councilperson Edwards noted that the County Real Property Tax Service office had sent a letter asking the town to provide its July 1, 2008, final assessment roll for posting on their website and that she thought this was something the town should do.  Town Clerk Cheryl Rogers reported that the tax bills were already available on the County website.  Supervisor Young said there was some “controversy” about this; that “not everyone wants their tax bills published”; she further said that although it is “public information”, there should still be some “privacy”.  Ms. Edwards then reported that she had left a message for the town’s assessment consultant, GAR Associates, about posting the tentative 2008 assessment roll on the town’s own website, as had been done in 2007, but she hadn’t heard back from them yet.