Notes from the Board of Assessors January 3, Hybrid meeting

Present:

• Gary Pitney, Chair
• Doug Goudey via Zoom
• Tom Stokes via Zoom
• Tammy Touponce, Secretary
• Michael Blay, Town Assessor

1. Board is required to sign Personal Property "Form of List" and post annually. Personal Property Tax mut be paid annually.
2. Requests for personal property tax abatements very low. Blay reported approximately 12 when in other years there were as many as 40.
3. Deed and map changes are posted annually. According to Blay, there will be many deed changes and only 3 or 4 map changes.
4. Blay reported there were no requests for abatements from the utility companies.
5. One landowner in Stockbridge requested to meet with the Board presumably with respect to his personal property taxes. The matter will be reviewed at next meeting
6. Blay mentioned increased expenses such as: for postage Blay mentioned a mailing to second homeowners is now "a huge mailing"; increase in expenses incurred to satisfy Department of Revenue (DOR) requirements; increased expenses with regard to Blay's continuing education.
7. Blay reported that the Appellate Court tax case in which the Desisto school property – 37 Interlaken – is appealing tax assessment is scheduled for January 12, 2022, after a number of postponements in 2021. Blay has not heard that it would be postponed again so he expects it will take place.

Meeting adjourned.

Editor's Note: Form of List is personal property subject to taxation. The list is filed annually by individuals (and businesses) of their furnishings, that is, those things about their property but not permanently affixed to the property. The primary exemption for individuals is for household furnishings and contents at the person's primary domicile

Snow angel. Photo: Jay Rhind