Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Assessment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Assessment board reopens withdrawn 2024 appeal and approves lower value for former charter school property
Summary
At its Aug. 23 meeting, the Peterborough Assessment Board voted to reopen a withdrawn 2024 appeal for a former charter school parcel and approved a lower assessed value after staff described extensive damage and code issues.
The Peterborough Assessment Board voted Aug. 23 to reopen a withdrawn 2024 appeal for a parcel that had been transferred to a church and to approve a reduced assessed value after staff said the building is severely damaged and not habitable.
The board reopened the 2024 appeal for parcel number 8 0641 0 5 and approved a revised assessed value the board discussed as $476,100. Assessment staff told the board the building portion of the assessment would be cut from $797,200 to about $200,000 to reflect the property’s condition.
Board members said the property had been conveyed to a church in a transaction they described as a $10,000 purchase after the former charter school had previously listed the site for a higher amount. Gabe Deaton, director of assessment, told the board the assessor’s office recommended the change based on condition and ownership-timeliness issues and that an objective appeal could allow the office to adjust value. “If you file an objective appeal, we may be able to adjust the value because this place is rundown. Right. It’s not habitable,” Deaton said.
Staff said the building had been broken into, that utilities and fixtures had been removed or stolen, and that a fire had occurred. Kathy Gould, a board member who inspected the property, said she had uploaded photos for the record: “I uploaded the pictures.” Board members said the condition would require major work to return the building to usable condition.
A board member moved to reopen the withdrawn 2024 appeal; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board then voted to approve the value change discussed in the meeting.
Board members noted the parcel is listed in the tax sale record, which added time sensitivity to the decision. The board said it would allow the withdrawing party (the appellant) to attend future hearings if they appear, but the board approved reopening and the value adjustment at the Aug. 23 meeting.
The action affects the parcel listed on the meeting agenda as an objective appeal for 2024. The board did not record a numerical roll-call tally in the public remarks; members decided by voice vote.
