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Contract assessor urges delay on five hangar abatements, explains abatement timeline
Summary
Contract assessor Dave Marasoff reviewed the town abatement and appeal process—deadlines, grounds for relief and appeal options—and recommended delaying decisions on five abatement requests for hexagon hangars leased from the city of Keene until full documentation and lease authorization are provided.
Contract assessor Dave Marasoff briefed the select board on the abatement and appeal process, including filing deadlines and the town’s duties in reviewing requests, and recommended the board postpone action on a set of abatement requests tied to airport hangars until the town receives complete documentation and authorization from the property owner.
Marasoff explained that the town issues two tax bills each year (an initial estimate and a definitive second bill) and that abatement requests generally must be filed by March 1, or within 60 days if bills were issued late. He said the town has until July 1 to respond to an abatement request under the applicable state statute as described in the meeting: “The town has until July 1 to answer,” Marasoff said. He outlined three common categories of abatements—physical-description errors, damage during the tax year, and valuation-opinion differences—and described the evidence the assessor seeks when investigating claims.
On the hexagon-hangar abatements, Marasoff said five related parcels were filed by a party that leases hangars from the city of Keene; the town’s property cards list the city of Keene as owner. He recommended the board request proper authorization or a complete application packet before taking action and suggested deferring these files to the next meeting. The board agreed to hold the items and asked staff and the assessor to request the outstanding lease and supporting documentation from the applicants or the city of Keene.
Why this matters: abatement decisions change individual taxpayers’ liabilities and can be appealed to the State Board of Tax and Land Appeals or superior court; the assessor urged a careful, document-based review to ensure decisions are defendable if appealed.
Follow-up: the assessor said he will draft a letter requesting complete documentation and the authorization needed to act on behalf of the property owner and will return with a recommendation at the next select-board meeting.
