Assessors ask advisory for $20,000 to prepare for 2030 revaluation; Vision software costs rise

Justin (Justice) Graves, deputy assessor, outlined the Board of Assessors’ FY27 request and future needs, asking advisory to fund a $20,000 revaluation reserve from the tax levy to prepare for the town’s 2030 revaluation and cyclical inspection schedule.

Graves said the assessors’ FY27 budget number is $115,428, an increase of about $6,178 from last year, and explained the $20,000 request would be used for the revaluation contract, neighborhood tax map upgrades, cyclical inspections and potential support upgrades for the Vision computer‑assisted mass appraisal system. He told the committee, "This year, the board of assessors are asking for $20,000 from the tax levy in order to put monies away for our upcoming 2030 revaluation."

The deputy assessor also described a 15.58% increase on the Vision license fee and warned that switching to another system would carry conversion risks and costs, including a likely conversion study and potential valuation errors. He urged that failing to budget prudently for revaluations can create certification issues with the Department of Revenue and lead to costly last‑minute problems.

Why it matters: Revaluations affect the town’s tax base and certification; inadequate preparation can delay DOR certification and have downstream impacts on tax rate setting.

What’s next: Advisory and the select board will consider how to fund the request; the assessors will return with supporting documentation and the board discussed funding options including overlay surplus vs. tax levy.