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Assessor requests additional staff ahead of 2026 revaluation as grand list edges up
Summary
The assessor said Waterford's net grand list rose 0.81% and requested restoration of a part-time year-round assessor aide plus a seasonal aide to support audits and the 2026 revaluation; the board approved the FY27 assessor budget.
The assessor presented a FY27 budget request of $351,260 and highlighted staffing needs tied to a modest grand-list increase and upcoming revaluation work. "Our net grand list this year increased by .81% over last year's post-board of assessment appeals totals," the assessor said, adding that real-estate values increased 1.03% while motor vehicles rose 3.29%.
She described the assessor's office plan to restore a previously removed part-time (approximately 19–20 hours per week) assessor aide for year-round technical support and to add a seasonal aide to handle the busy July tax-processing month. The office has also completed in-house personal-property audits that produced a three-year tax increase of $40,247 and added about $1.88 million in assessed value.
Committee members asked about capacity to handle commercial audit work in-house. The assessor said moving more audits internally will reduce reliance on external vendors and lower professional-fee costs, while leaving complex accounts to outside specialists. Members also discussed the presence of a nuclear plant (referred to in the hearing) and confirmed the assessor will participate in appraisal and valuation conversations related to that account as revaluation work proceeds.
The board approved the assessor's FY27 budget by voice vote. The assessor and councilors emphasized the work is intended to improve accuracy ahead of the 2026 revaluation.
