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Select board to ask voters whether to repeal town Board of Assessment Review
Summary
The board agreed to place repeal of the town's Board of Assessment Review on the warrant, moving appeals to the county. Supporters said the local board is hard to staff and county review is more independent; a motion to include repeal on the warrant was approved.
The Phippsburg Select Board agreed to include a warrant article to repeal the town's Board of Assessment Review and return property assessment appeals to county review.
Staff explained that the county handles appeals by statute and that maintaining a local board requires trained volunteers who are hard to recruit. "I don't see any purpose in holding on to it because... you've got to have people that want to do it that are somewhat educated in the system," the town administrator said. A board member moved to include repeal of the Board of Assessment Review on the warrant; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Supporters said county review reduces perceived bias and provides a fact‑based, independent appeal process; opponents raised concerns about loss of local control but did not block inclusion on the warrant. The motion to add the repeal to the town meeting warrant will put the question before voters.
