The Windham Assessing Office will be conducting a property valuation update, beginning with residential field reviews this fall and commercial property reviews starting in January of 2018. The last time the Town of Windham updated real estate assessments was in 2011, which resulted in a town-wide reduction in land and building values. The real estate market has changed significantly since 2011; those reductions no longer reflect today’s market.
A property valuation update is a process which collects
updated property data to be used as a basis all taxes
upon real and personal estate, assessed by authority of this State, shall be
apportioned and assessed equally according to the just value thereof.”
In
order to apportion the tax burden equally, the Assessor must establish assessed
valuations at just value. Just value is synonymous with market value. The
property valuation update will equalize valuations so that no one taxpayer pays
more or less than their fair share of the tax burden.
The Assessing Office will review local sales that are
considered "arm’s length" transactions and create updated pricing
schedules for land and buildings. The information collected will reflect the
property status on April 1, 2018. The valuation update will be reflected in the
2018/2019 tax bills.
Every property owner will receive a notice of their
proposed valuation based on the analysis performed. These values are not final
until informal hearings are complete. When a homeowner has a question or
concern about the proposed valuation, they are asked to call the Assessor’s
Office and schedule an informal hearing to discuss the valuation process and
answer any questions the property owner may have. Property owners are asked to
come prepared with questions and comparisons of their property to other comparable
properties in their neighborhood. The Assessor will determine if a review of
the property is necessary and will make any necessary changes before setting
final values.
Once the taxable values are established, the Town Council
will set the annual tax rate (mil rate). This is done by dividing the town's
net appropriations (as voted) by the town's taxable value.
A property owner has the right to legally appeal their
tax assessment if they feel that it is unfair or unjust. Abatement Applications
are available, but it is recommended that the Assessing Office be contacted
first to verify the information the office has on the property.
Tax Relief:
The following exemptions and current use programs are available to those
who qualify. Applications and more information can be obtained either through
the Assessing Office or by contacting Maine Revenue Services, Property Tax
Division at 287-2013.
Veterans Exemption - A person must be a Maine resident,
62 years or older and have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during a Federally
Recognized War Period or; be receiving 100 percent disability compensation for
service connected injury. ($6,000 exemption)
Homestead Exemption - A person must be a Maine resident
and have owned and resided in the property they consider their homestead and
legal residence for at least 12 months prior to date of application. Forms must
be filed with the Assessing Office by April 1. Forms filed after April 1 of any
year will apply to the subsequent year’s tax assessment.
Blind Exemption - A person determined to be legally
blind. ($4,000 exemption)
Current Use Programs: In the 1970's, the
Constitutional Law added a current use clause which allowed special treatment
for certain property use.
Tree Growth - A parcel of land with at least 10
contiguous forested acres which are harvested for commercial purposes.
Farmland - Property must have a minimum of 5 contiguous
acres and be used for agricultural purposes with contributing income.
Open Space - No minimum acreage but parcel must be undeveloped
and provide a public benefit.
Please contact the Windham Assessor’s Office at (207)
894-5960 ext. 3 for more information or visit our website at www.windhammaine.us/156/Assessor
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