The state Department of Revenue Administration has denied Rindge’s request to use previous property assessment figures to set its upcoming tax rate, after the town objected to its preliminary valuation nearly doubling under a revaluation by Avitar Associates.
In the meantime, Avitar has provided updated figures that reduce the town’s total valuation by about $70 million from the preliminary numbers. While still a sharp increase from last year, the new figures represent an 89.7% increase instead of 97% and are more consistent with increases in neighboring towns such as Jaffrey, according to Town Administrator Max Vandervliet.
Preliminary assessments prompted numerous complaints from residents, who said their new property values seemed arbitrary and that Avitar representatives were rude or dismissive during review appointments.
More than 100 people attended the Oct. 22 Select Board meeting, where the board discussed how to respond to the influx of complaints. Board members told residents the figures were still preliminary and that they were awaiting Avitar’s post-review adjustments. They also voted to ask the DRA whether the town could use prior-year valuations to set its tax rate until a satisfactory final assessment was available.
Vandervliet said Select Board Chair Bob Hamilton, along with State Sen. Kevin Avard and State Reps. John Hunt and Jim Qualey, met Tuesday with the DRA commissioner to discuss the proposal. The DRA told the group that Rindge must use Avitar’s assessment or continue working with the company until satisfied with the results.
“It’s better, for sure,” Vandervliet said of the updated numbers. “And, to me, it shows that they went through the process of taking input from residents, and did plenty of corrections, and we appreciate them going through that process. I think the Board of Selectmen and myself are still upset in general that property values have skyrocketed to the point it is actually impacting residents, but I’m glad that there were ample revisions in their final report.”
A follow-up meeting Thursday included Hamilton, Vandervliet, DRA Deputy Director Adam Denocour, Avitar Co-CEO Char Roberge and Avitar Assessor Monique Newcomb.
During that meeting, Avitar representatives stated they had made adjustments based on any actual incongruencies in property characteristics, such as a paved or dirt driveway, or the number of bedrooms.
There were also broader changes made to seasonal waterfront properties, based on sales data that show seasonal properties selling for less than year-round homes, even when other aspects such as waterfrontage and view were comparable.
Changes were also made to assessments in the neighborhood of 4th Street, as well as the parts of Rindge that are accessible only through Massachusetts.
Avitar also reduced the assessed cost per square foot for mobile homes from $148 to $140.
“Interestingly, [Avitar] stressed and DRA confirmed that mobile homes/trailers are now the new ‘starter home’ given how expensive traditional starter homes have gotten throughout the state, and so they’re seeing mobile homes/trailers appreciating significantly in the data,” Vandervliet said.
Base rates for lakefront properties were all reduced, and Avitar has committed to providing the town with detailed information on those assessments.
Letters detailing final valuations were mailed Oct. 27 to residents who scheduled appointments with Avitar, whether or not their assessments changed. Property owners whose values increased will receive separate final notices with their updated figures.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.