Town of Chatham
New Property Assessments & Taxes
Bob Schumacher, Non Voting Taxpayers Advisory Committee
According to Walter Brown, Town of Chatham Deputy Assessor, we can expect the following in the upcoming tax bills.
Assessment
1) 2003 is a revaluation year (state law mandates every 3 years).
2) All properties have been reassessed to market value as of 01/01/2003.
3) It can be safely assumed that assessments will be higher, the tax rate will be lower, and the total tax revenue will be up somewhat; at Town Meeting, Town Manager Bill Hinchey estimated total revenues will be up around 2.5%. The state cut school funding, and that will have to be made up from property taxes. In other words, homeowners will pay more.
4) Brown said it was too early to comment on what the average increase will be or the estimated new tax rate.
5) Assuming the state gives its blessing, tax bills with the new assessments will be mailed out in mid to late October.
Methodology
6) There has been no change in the methodology from three years ago.The Town is divided up into a number of logical neighborhoods based somewhat on land value, and then approximately 100 tables are applied to all properties to reflect the estimated increase in value since 1999. These tables are adjusted to reflect what is currently in greatest demand, such as style of architecture, number of bedrooms, waterfront or waterview, etc.
7) The new assessments as of 01/01/03 are based on actual sales during the most active time in the market of 2002 (summer and fall). The site is really the most important factor now because of the number of tear downs, and the fact that land has doubled in value from 1999 to the present time, according to Brown. State law requires assessments to approximate 100% of market value.
Appeals
8) Appeals must be filed with the Board of Assessors. The tax due date and the abatement deadline for filing date are the same. That date is published on the front of each tax bill.The second half bill is simply a reminder and cannot be appealed. Appeals forms can be obtained from the Assessor's office in the Town Hall, 549 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633. Telephone 508-945-5103.
9) The burden is on the taxpayer to provide adequate justification, and the Board must make a ruling within 90 days after the filing of an appeal.
10) The Town tax maps and the list of Assessments from last year (FY 2003) are on the Chatham website. New values will appear there as soon as they are approved. Go to
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