Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Revaluation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State‑ordered revaluation set in motion; city to mail July notices and Aug. 22 deadline for owners
Summary
City Council members said the state flagged Belfast's appraisal ratio at about 67.2%, triggering a required citywide property revaluation. Officials said a July mailing will explain next steps and that property owners have until Aug. 22 to submit the form or questions ahead of a September commitment when the mill rate will be set.
The City Council heard at the opening of its budget hearing that the state has notified Belfast the town's assessment ratio has fallen to about 67.2%, a level that triggers a mandatory revaluation of property assessments.
Committee member (speaker 1) said councilors were "notified a month or so ago that we're at 67.2%, I believe," and explained the city will send a letter from the city manager in July outlining the process and how property owners can review their data. The notice will include a form and instructions; the council emphasized the importance of reading the packet and contacting the assessing department with questions.
Why it matters: the revaluation resets assessed values used to calculate property taxes, and the city expects the mill rate to fall when reassessments are finalized. Councilors said final commitment of new assessment and mill‑rate numbers will occur in September; the July mailing is intended to give property owners time to prepare and, if necessary, request corrections.
City officials urged residents to act before the Aug. 22 deadline. "If you have questions on any level about your tax evaluation for this coming year, you have until August 22 to fill out the form that will be in the letter, contact the assessing department, and ask questions," the committee member said. The manager added that staff will provide guidance between the July mailing and the September commitment.
The council framed the revaluation as a required state process and one that will vary property by property: officials noted, based on other municipal experiences, about one‑third of properties may be assessed higher, one‑third lower and one‑third roughly the same after a revaluation. The council did not set any tax rates at the hearing; it scheduled further budget work and the formal commitment for September when final data are available.
