Assessing overhaul and $102,000 statistical update drew contention after contractor exit

Town officials told voters that Corcoran Consulting Associates gave notice it would end assessing services, prompting an urgent RFP. The select board and budget committee discussed a statistical update (a mid‑cycle valuation adjustment) to bring current assessments closer to market and to reduce the number of commercial abatements and litigation.

Town Manager Greg Colby told the meeting that Plaistow’s current sales‑to‑assessment ratio was approximately 70% and that DRA guidance suggests municipalities target a higher ratio. He said a statistical update would increase total assessed valuation and therefore reduce the tax rate per $1,000 of value although the town would still be raising the appropriation needed to operate. Colby said the RFP elicited one formal response (KRT Appraisal, Haverhill, Massachusetts); two other firms reported they were too busy after Corcoran’s exit.

A motion to amend the operating budget and add $102,000 for a statistical update was made and seconded; after discussion the assembly voted 24 in favor and 27 opposed, and the motion failed. The budget committee and select board had recommended contingency and capital‑reserve funding approaches to soften the 2026 mandated revaluation.

Budget committee and select board members also flagged a wave of commercial appeals in local courts and said more legal work may be required; that increase was one driver of the assessing discussion. Colby said the statistical update is not legally required but recommended by assessors and legal counsel in light of pending court cases and the closure of the long‑time assessing contractor.

Separately, voters placed a separate warrant article to fund future reevaluation activity on the ballot (Article P‑25‑09), and the contingency fund article (P‑25‑04) was explained as the likely tool to cover unexpected budget pressures if voters approve it.