2016-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Report of the Director of Assessing To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: The Board of Assessors values all Real and Personal Property within the Town of Mashpee as well as the Mashpee Water District. Values are determined as of January 1 st each year. These values are based on the previous calendar year's sales. The legal standard is that all property is assessed at its "full and fair market value". That is, the amount a knowledgeable and willing buyer would pay a knowledgeable and willing seller on the open market. The fiscal period ending June 30, 2016 is based on the assessment date of January 1, 2015. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) extensively audits the Assessor's Office triennially to verify that the assessors are using correct Mass Appraisal methodology and that its values reflect full and fair market value. When the DOR is satisfied, the assessors are allowed to calculate the tax rate based on the budget and then commit the tax levy to the Tax Collector. Fiscal Year 2016 saw overall property values in Mashpee rise by 4.1 % as the Real Estate Market improved. The Assessing Department continues to work diligently following any market fluctuations to fairly assess all properties and reflect any changes so that all Mashpee properties are equitably assessed. The Board of Assessors' areas of responsibility include: • Real Estate and Personal Property tax valuations • Administering Motor Vehicle Excise taxes • Administering Boat Excise taxes • Personal and Charitable Exemptions • Administering water, street and sewer betterments The Assessing Department's charge is to: • Discover, analyze, and reflect the value changes that occur in the market • Regularly inspect each property to record spe- cific features of the land and buildings • List items such as size, type, and quality of con- struction, number of rooms, baths, fireplaces, the type of heating, etc. • Inspect each structure in Town at least once every nine years • Set the Tax Rate based on budget requirements and valuations Real estate and motor vehicle excise tax levies account for the majority of the funds available to the municipality. Efficient and effective assessment practices result in a predictable tax levy which is essential to maintaining Town services. Again, I would like thank the dedicated Assessing Office employees and Members of the Board of Assessors for all of their hard work and commitment to the Town of Mashpee. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us or stop into the office and we will be happy to assist you. Respectfully submitted, Jason R. Streebel, MAA Director of Assessing 30