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BOARD OF ASSESSORS
The Board of Assessors submits the following report of its activities for the year ending December 31, 2003.
The Assessors held regular bi-monthly meetings, and met on a weekly basis during the busy tax-billing periods, and at other such times, as requested, had conferences and meetings with taxpayers, interested citizens and various Town Boards, Officials and the Board of Selectmen.
Members of the Board and office staff attended schools, classes and conferences sponsored by the Department of Revenue, International Association of Assessing Officers, Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers and the Middlesex County Assessors Association, in an effort to maintain their proficiency in the administration of the office and the appraisal and maintenance of real and personal property for assessment purposes.
The Board of Assessors voted to issue an actual real estate tax bill for Fiscal Year 2004, with a tax rate of $10.71 per thousand, in September 2003, to ensure proper financial management for the Town by avoiding unnecessary borrowing costs.
The assessed value tax roll for the Town of Belmont contains 7,777 real property accounts and 506 personal property accounts with an annual total assessed value of $4,766,358,350.00 for the tax year Fiscal Year 2004.
The office staff processed approximately 670 transfers of real and personal property, of which approximately 50% of the transfers were determined “valid” sales. There were 21,521 motor vehicle excise tax bills with a total excise tax of $2,750,833.38 committed to the Tax Collector. A total of 661 motor vehicle excise tax bills with a value of $50,333.51 were abated, 277 applications for statutory exemptions were granted resulting in $292,749.55 being exempted.
In April 2003, Town Meeting voted to accept Chapter 184 Section 51 of the Acts of 2002. Chapter 184 Section 51 allows the Board of Assessors to increase the gross receipts and whole estate limits, within specified parameters. The Board of Assessors and Representative Anne Paulsen drafted legislation with the approval of Town Meeting to increase the income eligibility for senior citizens, which had been last updated in 1987. The Legislature approved the new guidelines in the fall of 2002 allowing local acceptance by communities, and Town Meeting voted to accept in April 2003. This change became effective Fiscal Year 2004.
The Annual Town Meeting appropriated $72,905,418.00, with other amounts to be raised $242,900.00, and the total revenue required for the operation of Town Government $76,153,528.93. Estimated receipts and available funds totaled $25,105,831.00, leaving $51,047,697.93 to be raised by taxation.
The Board successfully defended 15 overvaluation appeals before the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board. The Board of Assessors continued the real and personal property re-inspection program as part of the computerized mass appraisal system, otherwise known as the “CAMA” system. During 2003, the Board of Assessors continued updating the existing CAMA system with regards to exempt property information: building plans, sketches, images, living area, as well as all other assessment information. Personal Property accounts have also been updated with regards to assessment of furniture and fixtures, equipment and machinery, and inventory. The re-inspection program provided an increase in assessed value of $66,363,591.00 in new growth for an increase in tax levy of $715,400.00 for Fiscal Year 2004. The
continual updating of the computer system of the Assessors Office allows for improved working conditions and public access.
The Board will continue with an equalized value program. All building, plumbing and electrical permits will continue to be monitored for possible adjustments in value. Sales ratio studies will be monitored as part of the equalization program in preparation of the Fiscal Year 2005 reappraisal.
The Board of Assessors also provided technical assistance to the Board of Selectmen on matters relating to the potential acquisition of public land. The expertise of the Board and staff saves the cost of real estate appraisal services which would otherwise be required in such matters.
The Town of Belmont’s Board of Assessors Office continues being the most designated in the Commonwealth. These designations include: two Certified Assessment Evaluators (CAE) and one Administrative Assessment Specialist (AAS), awarded by the IAAO, three Certified Massachusetts Assessors (CMA), awarded by the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers, as well as numerous other professional designations from both the public and private sectors.
In April 2003, Elizabeth Collins received an award from the Middlesex County Assessors Association for over 20 years of service in the Assessors’ Office.
The office staff consists of Robert P. Reardon, CAE, Assessing Administrator, Maryanne Knorr, AAS, Assistant Assessing Administrator, Virginia M. Kelley, Assessment Technician, and Elizabeth Collins, Assessors Clerk.
Respectfully submitted,
Angelo A. Borelli, Chairman
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