by Eugene Reed
According to NH law (RSA 21-J:14-b), the NH Assessing Standards Board shall hold a series of at least 3 public forums annually throughout the state to receive general comment through verbal and written testimony on assessing guidelines and practices.
One of the Public Members of that Board, Eugene Reed of Nottingham, motioned that the southeast New Hampshire location of Nottingham be one of the sites this year. The board voted and passed that motion. The forum will be held Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 6:00pm in the Nottingham Municipal Office Building, Multipurpose Room, 139 Stage Rd, Nottingham, NH. Although held in Nottingham, the forum is open to all. Surrounding town residents are encouraged to attend and ask questions, present information or give opinions as to their feelings or experiences with property assessing. (This is not a forum to discuss sales tax, income tax, etc., but is an opportunity to discuss how fair and equal property values for taxation are achieved.)
Nottingham has been a focal point of property assessing unrest. This displeasure forced the Town, by vote at a special town meeting, to end it’s contractual relationship with the then current assessing company, adopt uniform assessing practices, audit the work of the assessing contractor, and for the Board of Selectmen to receive any evidence for the need reassessment. (The State of New Hampshire Assessing Standards Board was created after the Supreme Court identified similar problems on a statewide scale in 2001.)
Then came another voter action. That was a vote that requires the Town to elect an autonomous Board of Assessors in 2009. Nottingham will join only four other Towns in the State to have such a Board.
This event is a rare opportunity for you to speak to the State of New Hampshire assessing policy makers. If you have any comments about appraising methods, land valuation models, public relations, the abatement process, or anything else assessing related, please come to this meeting. (If you are uncomfortable with public speaking, written comments will be accepted. If you wish to hear your comments read, we have a volunteer “reader” available. In both cases submissions must be signed.)