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Residents and board raise concerns about tree-growth valuations ahead of revaluation
Summary
Board members and a resident warned that tree-growth assessment methodology and a long-running computer error may have produced incorrect valuations for roughly two dozen properties; the board said an upcoming revaluation aims to fix the problem.
Residents and Select Board members said at the meeting that tree-growth valuation methodology and historic computer errors have likely led to incorrect assessments for multiple properties on Westport Island.
A board member said he had flagged problems with the tree-growth assessment approach and valuations compared with the state schedule used for Lincoln County. “Part of it was I was pointing out that I thought that some of the methodology for tree growth assessments was wrong and the valuations in system were wrong,” he said. He said he expected the town assessor and staff to review the issue. The board said a revaluation currently underway should help correct inconsistencies but warned the process could take a couple of years to complete.
Board members noted they had previously discovered a large, long-running computer mistake that had affected valuations and that the reval work is being done by an independent contractor to minimize local conflicts of interest. One board member said roughly 24 properties were flagged as being in tree-growth status and that some of those entries may require correction.
The board encouraged property owners who suspect errors to contact the assessor so the revaluation contractor can review individual records before new values are posted.
