Assessor outlines revaluation plan: town under market; notices due in spring
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Summary
Tax Assessor Clint told the council Cumberland’s assessed values lag market sales and described a revaluation with spot fieldwork, mid‑cycle mini‑adjustments every 2–3 years, and new valuation notices to go out in spring; new tax rates would take effect with the September billing cycle.
Tax Assessor Clint briefed the council on the townwide revaluation plan, data and timing, and answered questions about the process.
Clint said the town’s average sales‑to‑assessment ratio is roughly 46% and that the last full revaluation (2018) left the town under market in many neighborhoods. He recommended a revised cadence of reviews every two to three years with targeted field checks and public outreach to minimize abrupt “sticker‑shock.”
Clint described his public communications plan (town mailers with QR codes linking to parcel data), the planned fieldwork schedule (this fall/winter), and the timeline for valuation determinations (January–April) with notices to homeowners in the spring and the new tax rate effective with the September tax bill. He urged residents to bring any data errors to the assessor’s office and said exemptions (homestead, veterans, blind) will be adjusted to full value following the revaluation.
Councilors asked practical questions — how canvassers will be identified, how values intersect with school budget planning, and how many residents typically appeal — and Clint answered that assessors will wear identification, coordinate with police and that historically about 10% of taxpayers engage for appeals or visits.
Clint emphasized that valuations rising does not automatically double taxes; final mill rates depend on budget decisions by the town and school units.