Okay. Uh it is Tuesday, October 7th, 2025, and I call the uh assessor's meeting to order at 5:34. Uh this meeting is being recorded by the local scene. Anyone intending to make an audio or video recording of this meeting
should notify the chair at this time. Next, first item is open session. Anybody hear this with open session? Uh Mari's going to provide us a little office update. >> Uh so the first thing is uh we'll have
the interim adjustment time coming up and I have the new growth almost set which is total of 390 including personal property and real estate. I still have to go over
a few things but that's the lowest expense since I've been here. We had a water moratorum on this past year. So there wasn't much building in town. So the the real estate was 258
689 and personal property was 132,000. So we're at 390. Um we budgeted for 100. So we're close. I think after I review some things we might get close to that. But >> sorry, could you could you explain that one more time? Um I I know you were
saying that >> you were you were discussing the the sales and whatnot. >> Yeah. >> And you were saying that they're they seem to be slower this year. >> They the the permits were slower. >> So but and you won't Yeah. So new houses
um addition stuff like that. They couldn't get permits because of the water moratorum which has come off recently. So we should see a pickup. But um building was slow. We were slower. people just couldn't build >> in in the the numbers you were
referencing that the 250 >> Yeah. 390 total. Yeah. >> And then the 132 is the personal property >> for for new growth >> for new growth. Just new growth. >> Okay. >> Um so that is the I mentioned it is the lowest we've had in years. We are really
close to the budget which is a good thing. So what we budgeted for should be there. So, so what we expected for new growth Yeah. is is approximately where >> approximately about like I said 10,000 under what we budgeted which is 400 and
it was budgeted that low because of the water moratorium. >> When did it end? >> Maybe a month ago. >> Months ago. >> Yeah. They lifted it and now >> put it in your ADU. Yeah, >> Steve, I was just going to say that now we have the accessory dwelling units
which people can put on their property and now that water's available, we can probably see that. Paula in building has said that's already gearing up. So that's that's for the the growth.
>> The um sales analysis, the LA3 has been scrubbed, has been looked at. and I both looked at it multiple times and vision has done its um statistical analysis and I've given you copies of the LA3.
There's still a few things um looking at but it's like a 90% finished product as far as the assessment to sale ratios on each sale item. The residential has been done. the
commercial afraid of the vision has not started his work yet. Um, and he's calling me tomorrow to set up sometimes his name. >> Wow. >> Well, >> what's he doing? >> Well, the little bit of commercial we have.
>> No, but I mean, he's late. >> I know. I've been calling him, >> right? Yeah. I know. >> We're in the LA3 that's on Gateway. Is that always the latest or do you >> On Gateway? Yeah, you you upload that, right?
>> Yeah. the the DLS. >> Yeah, but that would be last year's. Nothing's uploaded into Gateway yet. >> So, >> as soon as I get the >> So, it hasn't even been submitted. >> Yeah, it would have to be approved for you to see it. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's because I'm waiting for the
commercial. >> Could I just ask on the Just looking at the the print out that you provided here. What is the time trend the last column? >> Yeah, we don't use that. >> Yeah. What what is that though?
>> That in when when you had like in 2020 21 >> things were going up like people we went up like 22% 24%. >> So if you had a sale in January, >> it should sell for more in December. So you would time your sales. Yeah, I will
tell you I I did that in Dutchbury. Um, and do freaks out when you do it because it's more work for them. But I think for your taxpayers, you should be showing it that because that's literally what's happening in the marketplace, right? The
I would time trend first, second, and third quarter >> because you're really looking at fourth quarter as your basis for the whole year. So, what sold in the fourth quarter is more than what was first, second, or third. Um, and in vision there's a really awesome way to figure
that out what that is. >> Yeah. You you run the report and it says, "Okay, it's one and a quarter a month or it's 2% for a month." Um, it it's just not relevant in the current market because it's it's still going up a touch >> but not not the the dramatic.
>> So, were the assessments being based on a time trend? Like, so what? >> No, they're not. >> Okay. That's why I was wondering in their um program, but it hasn't been you. >> Okay. Yeah. And that's why I was curious because I don't I don't remember seeing this on the LA3s. I I don't recall or I
don't know if it was a different column or if it had been left off um you know my term um for 2020. I'm not sure Steve but >> yeah it could have been but >> I've never seen it used in my >> but is that was that what essentially the purpose of it if it were to get
used? >> Yeah. And I think appra Well, you would know you're an appraiser. Appraisers use it a lot when they're evaluing. They do an appraisal. They're doing it as of the date, right? >> Because we we might not even be if you weren't doing an appraisal, you might have showed up in October of 25,
>> but the most recent sale you might have might be from 2024. >> So there's just too much to extrapolate. >> Yeah. Yeah. There's just too much of a time frame in there >> for like the mass appraisal as opposed to >> So why does do not like seeing those >> more work
>> but more work from my perspective if they're not you >> should be able to analyze yeah the data that you are presenting and I would present them a report coming right out of vision saying hey here's what it is this is what we're using um when my average value was a million dollars 1.2
too. I I don't think I could present to people that the guy that bought the house in um December or or November, he's coming and going, "Hey, yeah, my my ratio is 95." If I didn't time trend, he would be looking at his neighbor who bought a house in February and he might
have a ratio of only 85 where this guy over here, he's 95. He's home, what gives? How how come he's so much less than that? And that's where the time trend would come in to track >> if if you were to use a time trend. But but we don't we don't use a time trend. Okay. But but in theory you could use it
and that's and that's where the assessment based off of if you were to use a time trend. >> I don't believe any of the communities can use >> the market warrant. >> Yeah. The market warrants it. You don't have to do it. Yeah. Just because >> market was crazy back then.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I can only be the Viking 21 to be in appraising in 86 before your time. >> Wow, look at that. >> Older than you think. >> I I've been around
>> apparently. >> I just I just look young. >> Healthy living. Good. Good. >> Um, so the only other thing is I didn't get it on the agenda of this meeting. Um, let me backtrack a little bit. Would everyone be all right with meeting
October 21st for our next meeting, which is two weeks from today? >> I thought it was I thought it was already I thought it was already scheduled, but >> it is normally Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I know. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Is that that would be our normal? Would that be our normal? >> That's our normal.
>> Yeah. >> And then Tom meeting for the town of Kingston is the next >> the 28th. >> The 28th. >> Oh, how exciting. >> Really exciting. >> Wow. Um so just to preempt that I will be asking for the assesses to release
100,000 in overlay and that money is what we are going to use or we have an article to use that for our reevaluation in 27 and that we will put out RFPs. They already have
them at the attorney's office for people to bid on the job. But look at our current vendors which are vision and RC it would be about a h 100,000 for them to do everything they need to do. >> So >> and that's for the full townwide
>> full townwide five year. >> Yeah the five year >> but we can um so that's for next meeting. So that will >> and 21 >> and 21 >> and when when you say the overlay again just for anybody who might be watching >> what like what is the overlay exactly?
You said we'd be requesting 107 from from the overlay. So overlay is the account that we have that we use for abatements exemptions in the and every year we'll put some money into overlay as part of part of our tax rate setting
and we have it for like I said the exemptions the abatements for ATB cases so we need that it's not in our regular budget we need that to pay out different um things like that and ATB is a big
factor when the town raises more money than it needs because it knows it's have to give some of it back, >> right? And so the 107 that would be coming from the overlay. How much is in the overlay right now? >> It's close. Um
Kathleen did we don't have much in the overlay right now. It's actually the only funding s we have in town to do their weap. I can give you this what she gave me which is a spreadsheet in that we have a lot of receivables.
>> So anything that hasn't been collected goes against it. So the overlay is a million one >> but we have real estate bills that we haven't collected on and we have to put those that against the overlay. >> Yeah. >> I think the the other thing to consider too is that um >> so it's it's very tight. at at town
meeting we voted in um to increase the veterans by 50% plus the code. So that increases >> that that'll go up. >> So if we take the 107 from the overlay for >> the 100 >> okay the 100 for from the overlay for the for the revail that leaves
essentially nothing in the overlay for >> correct >> for for the rest remaining portion of this year. Is that my my name? >> It would leave um it would leave like well 2 58,000. >> Okay.
>> It will leave enough for us, but we're >> for like abatement and and >> what like yeah it's it's tight and hopefully we can some of these receivables will go down. Maybe Ken can but we're in a tough situation
financially and and then to um put different properties into tax title that costs money. Can you could probably speak and I don't know if you even have that in the budget which is not which is not assessing that. Yeah.
I the town should have liquidated the tax title inventory years ago. >> Still sitting on you >> hundreds of thousands of dollars tax that uh
one selected but real estate is a good investment right business investing in real estate. We're in the business of, you know, municipal government, >> right? >> And turning it over and putting it back
on the tax role. >> We haven't had a tax title auction in >> 25 25 years. >> I've been doing this 18 years. We have not done one. >> So, >> I had one. We had one. Well, there are other ways to to liquidate it, but
>> talk to neighbors and >> the inventory builds up. >> I mean, I I I was proactive, right? >> People came in and wanted to know about tax title and tell them this is what you do if you want to buy a tax title property. And I would help them
communicate with the current owner because if you can get >> willing buyer together with the owner who is in a rears they work something out. >> So that is >> that's everything.
>> Yeah. Office updates. >> All right. Next item on the agenda it's view bills for paying. >> It's responding the MLF. they have in the office. >> I signed on the wrong spot. >> Um, next to the WB Mason bill.
>> I'll sign near the sign. >> Want me to move the arrow down here? >> No, that's okay cuz you guys um >> Okay. Um >> that one >> was that a 24.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Because he's totally redone. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um >> I was wondering who was I had to look it up and say which number is that? This one is my travel
reimbursement for inspections. >> Did we uh how many trees did we have to cut down and where did you get them? >> We have to this expensive paper to cover it. >> Okay, good. All right. Totally known.
>> The town administrator has to sign it as well. We need all of that money. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, is that it for bill? >> That's it for bills. >> Uh meeting minutes for reviews >> for um September 23rd.
>> Nice big arrow. And that for the minutes. Um that's all we have for open session. Okay. I move to enter into executive session not to return to open session in order to comply with mass general law chapter 59 section 60 to discuss
exemption abatement applications the contents of which are not public record. All those in favor oh wait second that first. Yes. >> All those in favor I was at 550.