PARIS — Taxpayers vented frustrations over new property valuations and implored selectmen to make appointments with assessors to discuss the figures.
More than 85 people attended a selectmen meeting Monday night to air their grievances with property revaluations provided by RJD Appraisals of Pittsfield. So many showed up that the meeting had to be moved from the Town Office to the Fire Station.
Mike Risica asked how the company was chosen to complete the process, which began in August 2014.
Town Clerk Elizabeth Knox said there was a bid process and two were received. RJD Appraisals was the lowest at $179,000.
Town Assessor Jerry Samson stood by the company’s work and has been holding hearings with company assessors and residents this week. There were 210 appointments made as of Monday evening.
Dennis Creaser, who co-owns Creaser Jewelers on Main Street with his wife, Julie, was one of three business owners who were worried about higher values and higher taxes. He said the couple made a significant investment by building their store in Paris instead of Oxford or Norway.
“It seems like our punishment for believing in this town is a crushing new property tax,” he said. He called on people to reject the revaluation numbers and people applauded.
Another Main Street business owner, Don Clifton of Paris Kitchen and Design, said his taxes increased by $1,000 in 2013 and now, after the revaluation, he expects another jump of between $1,000 and $1,300.
“We’re slowly climbing out of the recession, but we’re nowhere near where we were when this happened,” he said. “At this point, I might as well close the business, sell the property and move out of town.”
Samson told the crowd that land values are derived from land sales in town and property values are based on age, square footage, the cost of construction and any depreciation. Of the 3,000 accounts in town, about one-third stayed the same, one-third went down and one-third increased. He said the tax rate is projected to remain the same at $17.90 per $1,000 of assessed value.
“No one is ever satisfied with their tax bill, but it’s not far off,” Samson said.
Joe Bracey of Brett Hill Road lives in a 150-year-old farmhouse. He said the value of his buildings jumped by $80,000, even though the only improvement he’s made to the property since the revaluation in 2007 was adding a porch. He asked for further clarification about how the company arrived at the new numbers, wondering if there was a view tax.
Samson said the town doesn’t have one.
The assessor who visited his home told him the value included the location of the house, the orientation and the view, Bracey said. He added that maybe he’s obtuse, but he thinks that equates to a view tax.
“There isn’t a view tax, but if you have a view, it falls into that higher (value) range,” Samson said.
“Just call it a view tax and get it over with,” a man from the crowd called out.
Assessors from JRD Appraisals are still meeting with people through Thursday, June 25. But Samson said for the next six months, residents could appeal their revaluation figures by calling the Town Office and making an appointment with him.
The new figures take effect Wednesday, July 1, he said.
Resident and business owner Bob Jewell asked the board if it did its research in hiring the appraisal company.
“We already know the last revaluation was no good,” Jewell said. “Let’s not sit here and say we can’t make mistakes. As somebody said earlier, you have the right to reject this whole thing,” he said. His statement prompted loud applause.
“The board has to consider this in some way,” Selectman Sam Elliot said. “To turn this down — it is an expensive process. They are certifiable people; they have a good reputation. They’re not some fly-by-night organization.”
Elliot said he recognized “there’s some strong feelings out there, very genuine concerns and some strange numbers as well.”
Selectmen will address the revaluation process at a future meeting.
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