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Board to invite appraisers after debate over how large detached garages and ADUs are valued
Summary
Assessors and board members signaled plans to invite valuation companies and appraiser representatives after hearing concerns that large detached accessory buildings (example: Todd Drive) may be treated inconsistently in the town's mass-appraisal system compared with bank appraisals and sales data.
Board members raised questions about whether the town’s mass-appraisal approach accurately reflects the market value of large detached accessory buildings and accessory dwelling units.
Lucas Ray, a board member, said sales evidence and recent outliers suggested the town’s approach may yield inconsistent results for high-end or unusual detached structures. "I feel like the sale price should be the benchmark," Ray said, pointing to a local residential example where valuation spiked after a sale.
Denise Ellis, director of assessing, explained the office uses sales data and construction details to quantify values in the mass-appraisal system and that changes usually show up when seals and sales come through. She encouraged the board to review sales evidence and suggested the office could adjust codes or square-footage treatments if the sales record shows a consistent difference.
Members agreed to invite valuation firms (including PK Valuation) and representatives from appraisal associations to an August meeting to explain how appraisers and banks treat accessory buildings. The board said it wants the external review to identify whether new or different property-card codes, or a different coding approach, are needed to reflect market value more accurately.
The board did not commit to any immediate valuation changes; it tasked staff with compiling sales and seal data and arranging expert presentations for the next meeting.
