About Us

The Assessors' office job is to maintain an assessment system that develops fair and equitable values for all classes of property. The Assessors are required by Massachusetts law to list and value all real and personal property within the town, thus insuring that all owners of such property pay their fair and equitable share of the tax burden based upon the value of their property.

Assessors must maintain arms-length sales records for Interim Adjustments completed yearly to maintain current market values and approval by the Department Revenue. From those sales reviews, new rates are then established for land and all types of buildings and the new rates are applied to properties across the community.  Every five years, the Assessors must re-value all real and personal property and submit these values to the Department of Revenue for certification

 

The Assessors may grant real estate abatements for overvaluation or adverse topography.  We process personal real estate tax exemptions to qualifying taxpayers.
 

Assessors determine your share of the tax burden based on property value. The tax rate is determined by dividing the total spending voted at town meetings by the total taxable value of the community as certified by the Department of Revenue.

 

Assessors also have the responsibility for motor vehicle excise tax bills originated by the State Registry of Motor Vehicles and boat excise tax bills generated by the Environmental Law Enforcement. Assessors may grant abatements and answer any question regarding these excise tax bills.

 

The Assessors' office provides a variety of information to the public. Assessors' maps, property record cards, deeds, and personal property information are available for review. Abutters lists are prepared by the Assessors' office for various other offices.
 

We are also linked to the Vision Appraisal website; and Cartographic Associates GIS maps.