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Nashua Board of Assessors approves multiple tax abatements, tables manufactured‑housing case
Summary
The Board of Assessors approved several property abatements and denials during its July 16 meeting, approved a current‑use application, and tabled one manufactured‑housing uncollectible‑taxes case for further legal and interdepartmental review ahead of an August 6 follow‑up. A disabled‑veteran taxpayer also requested filing leniency during public comment.
Charles Dobbins, a member of the City of Nashua Board of Assessors, called the July 16 meeting to order and led the board through minutes approval and a slate of abatement recommendations.
Assessing staff presented multiple data‑correction and market‑adjustment recommendations that the board approved, including abatements for 64 Coburn Woods, 60 Timberline Drive and two units at Theresa Way. Staff said inspections and corrected property attributes (flooring, bedroom/bathroom counts, basement and garage status) lowered assessed values and supported the abatements. For the small condominium conversion at Theresa Way, staff recalibrated assessment factors so newer units aligned with recent sales and recommended refunds for the two filed abatements.
The board then moved through a list of denial recommendations and approved them by consent, recording individual abstentions where requested. Staff and board members discussed a recurring argument from some filers that they should not pay the school portion of their tax bills; staff cited RSA 76:16 and related abatement rules and said challenges to tax‑rate arguments have not prevailed before the BTLA or Superior Court in prior cases.
The board approved a current‑use application for 6 Southgate Drive after staff confirmed the applicant provided an acceptable revised map and that the package was complete and timely for recording at the registry of deeds.
Staff described an administrative abatement recommendation for a manufactured home the park acquired and intends to demo. Inspectors reported the unit (circa 1994 double‑wide) is structurally unsound; staff recommended abating uncollectible taxes for 2024–25 by setting the parcel value to zero before a final bill so that no taxes or interest would be due for those years. Board members raised questions about whether the city could pursue a personal collection action against the former owner if an abatement were granted and whether issuing a demolition permit would be blocked by outstanding taxes. Staff advised the tax‑lien/deeding process likely would not be available in this scenario and that building‑department permitting practices vary when outstanding taxes appear in their system.
To resolve those legal and permitting uncertainties, the board directed staff to arrange a short interdepartmental meeting with tax collectors and building officials before the next meeting. Because the manufactured‑housing case raised questions requiring legal and operational clarification, the board moved to table the abatement recommendation for 22 Leanne Street; the motion carried and the item will be revisited at the board's August 6 meeting.
During public comment, Peter Jacobson of 3 Bartimas Trail, Apartment 206 told the board he submitted an application for the disabled‑veteran tax credit after the April 15 deadline and asked for leniency under RSA 72:35, citing family medical emergencies and his own hospitalization. Jacobson said he is a 100% PNT (permanent and totally disabled) veteran and asked the board to consider the circumstances that led to the late filing.
After public comment the board voted to enter nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A for applicant privacy and to receive legal advice; the board entered nonpublic session at 9:35 a.m.
The board is scheduled to reconvene on August 6, when staff expects to report back on the legal/collection questions and the tabled manufactured‑housing abatement.
