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Effingham selectmen flag current-use parcels for review after DRA visit; board orders spreadsheet audit
Summary
Following a review by a DRA representative, Effingham officials flagged multiple current-use parcels that may be improperly posted yet receiving a 20% recreational/current-use discount; the selectmen instructed staff to export records to Excel, identify suspect parcels, and convene a follow-up meeting with the assessor and DRA.
Town officials discussed findings from a recent Division of Revenue Administration (DRA) review that identified examples of properties receiving a current-use recreational discount despite evidence they were posted or lacked stewardship plans. Speaker 2 summarized the DRA recommendation: "If you're getting that extra 20%, your land should be open," and asked staff to prepare a list of parcels that appear to be improperly posted for further investigation and possible correction.
The board examined the current-use report in the meeting and noted multiple parcels that raised red flags: some properties were shown as posted yet received the added 20% recreational/current-use adjustment, while stewardship plans were either missing or out of date. Members agreed the most efficient next step is to export the town's current-use listings (Avatar) into Excel so the records can be sorted, totaled and cross-checked against stewardship agreements and the 10-acre minimum threshold. The chair (Speaker 1) said staff would attempt the export and circulate an organized spreadsheet for board review.
Selectmen asked that the town assessor (Rich) and a DRA representative (Jason) be invited to a follow-up session to reconcile flagged entries, confirm assessment bases, and determine any corrections. The board described the task as substantial "homework" because many records appear not to have been reviewed in decades and may require parcel-level audits.
The meeting closed with staff assigned to prepare the export and coordinate schedules for a reconciliation meeting with the assessor and DRA; no enforcement or penalties were decided during the session. The board framed the action as a records review and fact-finding step before any changes to individual tax assessments are made.
