Q: WHAT DOES THE OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR DO BETWEEN REVALUATIONS?

A: PERSONAL PROPERTY, INCLUDING MOTOR VEHICLES ARE VALUED ANNUALLY AND THIS OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR GOES THROUGH THE SAME CYCLE EACH YEAR WITH OVER 61,000 MOTOR VEHICLES AND A MINIMUM OF SEVERAL THOUSAND BUSINESSES. REAL PROPERTY IS THE ONLY TYPE OF PROPERTY THAT IS NOT VALUED ANNUALLY. BETWEEN REAL PROPERTY REVALUATION'S, THE OFFICE OF THE ASSESSOR MUST CONTINUALLY MAINTAIN THE ACCURACY OF ASSESSMENT DATA. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN PROPERTIES HAVE SOLD WE NEED TO INSURE THAT WE HAVE ACCURATE DATA ON SOLD PROPERTIES AT THE TIME OF SALE. ACCURATE DATA ON SOLD PROPERTY PROVIDES A BASIS FOR ESTIMATING VALUE ON UNSOLD PROPERTY. ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE WHEN BUILDING PERMITS ARE ISSUED BY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE (BUILDING DEPARTMENT). ON EACH ASSESSMENT DATE, I.E., OCTOBER 1, OF EACH YEAR, THIS OFFICE MUST INSURE THAT, WHERE PERMITS AND CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY HAVE BEEN ISSUED, AS WELL AS WHEN WE ARE NOTIFIED OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES BY CITIZENS, THE ASSESSMENT OF THESE PROPERTIES REFLECT WHAT THE ASSESSMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN AS OF THE LAST REVALUATION DATE. FOR SALES AND OR PERMITS THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH INSPECTIONS OF PROPERTY. OVER 2,500 PROPERTIES FIT IT TO THESE TWO (2) CATEGORIES ALONE. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE MAINTAIN TAX MAPS AND KEEP TRACK OF OWNERSHIP BY RELYING HEAVILY ON WHAT PROPERTY OWNERS AND/OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES SUBMIT TO THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE, E.G., DEEDS AND DEVELOPER'S MAPS.