What We Do
The Assessors Department has a full-time Principal Assessor and office staff, working under the direction of an elected, three-member Board of Assessors. The members of the current Board of Assessors are Robert Curran, Jr., Chairman, and Emmanual Mecha with one vacant seat.
The Assessors Office is responsible for administering Massachusetts property tax laws effectively and equitably. The Assessors are required to produce an accurate and fair appraisal of all taxable property in the Town. The taxable property would include not only real estate but also the personal property of businesses as well.
The Assessors Office maintains a public access computer terminal, which is available Monday through Friday, 8:45 am to 4:15 pm. The data includes the property owners' names, total living area, building footprint, land area, and total assessed value broken down by land value and building value.
The motor vehicle excise tax is administered through the Assessors Office. Adjustments to the bill, called Abatements, can be made when a car is sold, when the owner moves out of state or when the plates are transferred to a new vehicle. The owner of the vehicle must provide proof that the car has been sold, moved, or otherwise disposed of and proof that the registration has been canceled or transferred.
Each year, the Assessors Office sends exemption and deferral forms to property owners who have received an exemption and/or deferral during the previous fiscal year. Exemptions are granted to property owners who meet one of the following qualifications: Financially qualified seniors over 70 years of age, blind persons, and veterans with certain service-connected disabilities.
The Assessors Office is conducting a town-wide cyclical reassessment program. This initiative is an ongoing process. Our plan is to inspect every home at least once every ten years. The Principal Assessor and staff are available to answer your questions during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm