GREENFIELD — The Board of Assessors has been notified that the fiscal year 2017 property assessments resulting from a revaluation have been certified by the State Department of Revenue. Those proposed assessments will be made available to the public for review at the assessor’s office in the Greenfield Town Hall and in the reference room of the library. The disclosure will begin 8:30 a.m. today and end 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Public disclosure of the proposed assessments is the final, fine tuning phase of the revaluation which is performed once every three years, according to a press release from the assessors. This must be done before finalizing values and setting the tax rate. Property owners will have a one-week opportunity to respond to the new values. Assessing staff will be available to answer questions
Fiscal Year 2017 assessments represent fair cash value as of the appraisal date of Jan. 1, 2016. Property assessments were based on new information substantiated during the revaluation. Values should primarily reflect calendar year 2015 building costs and market conditions as well as any updates to the property records such as new construction or data corrections..
Forms will be available for those who feel their assessment is not equitable or representative of fair market value. Those submitting documentation must state their opinion of value and specific reasons to support their opinion in order to receive consideration by the board. No hearings will be scheduled at this time.
The forms must be received by the assessors’ office no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Subsequent to the review, fiscal year 2014 assessments will be finalized. Tax bills, which will be issued on or before Jan. 1, 2017, will be based on these final values. Property owners will have until the day tax bills are due, usually by Feb. 2 to file abatement.
Questions concerning the new assessments or the review process may be directed to the assessor’s office 413-772-1506.