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Select Board denies Eversource abatement after assessor recommends denial
Summary
Kingston Select Board voted unanimously to deny a 2024 abatement request from Eversource after the town assessor reported insufficient supporting documentation and cited the Department of Revenue Administration valuation issues.
The Kingston Select Board voted unanimously to deny a 2024 abatement request from Eversource during its June 2 meeting after the town’s utility assessor recommended denial.
The assessor’s letter, dated May 30, 2025, concluded Eversource presented no supporting appraisal or other information to justify a lower valuation and noted the company relied on values from the Department of Revenue Administration that the Board of Tax and Land Appeals has previously found unreliable for public utility property. "Should the taxpayer provide new information, or if the company has misinformed the town as to the inventory property, we will consider those issues when and if they arise," the assessor wrote, according to the letter read aloud at the meeting.
Why it matters: Abatement decisions affect the town’s property tax base and precedent for utility valuations. The assessor’s recommendation shaped the board’s action; board members said they would reconsider if the company supplied new data.
Board action and discussion: A motion to deny the Eversource abatement was made and seconded; the board voted unanimously in favor. Select Board member Ellie moved the motion and Select Board member Ellen seconded it. No board member recorded opposition or abstention.
What was not decided: The assessor’s letter said it would reconsider if Eversource produced new information. The board’s vote denied the current application; the transcript does not show any additional conditions placed on a future submission.
Context and authorities: The assessor referenced the Department of Revenue Administration valuations and the Board of Tax and Land Appeals in explaining why the Department of Revenue Administration numbers are not a reliable independent valuation for public utility property. The assessor’s firm, Sans Souci Associates, provided the recommendation to the board.
Next steps: The board recorded the denial; the assessor and town staff will consider any future documentation submitted by Eversource. The board did not set a deadline for any resubmission during the meeting.
