Assessing Department

Mission Statement:  The goal of the Assessing office is to provide both a precise and efficient property tax assessment system ensuring equitable distribution of the tax burden among property owners.

Duties and Responsibilities:  The Assessing Department is committed to ensuring that each taxpayer receives a fair and equitable real estate assessment.  This commitment involves strict adherence to state statutes governing property assessments with oversight of property exemptions, credits, and current use programs.  Additionally, the department actively shares real estate information with the public encompassing property record cards, tax maps, surveys, plans, ownership records, sales data, and other pertinent information.

Functions Performed by the Assessing Department

• Valuate all property in Town as of  1 April of the current tax year - including new subdivisions and all new construction or improvements.
• Maintain property values in accordance with NH Assessing Standards Board.
• Inspect real property on a cyclical basis to conform to 5-year certification by NH DRA.
• Process transfer of ownership.
• Process all exemption applications (Elderly, Veteran's , Disabled, Blind, Elderly/Disabled deferral).
• Process abatement applications.
• Process Intent to Cut or Excavate.
• Bi-annual Tax Warrants.
• Process current use applications or land use change tax.
• Defend Board of Tax and Land Appeals cases.
• Process yearly tax-exempt applications.
• Process and maintain tax map updates.
• Maintain property sales books.
• Maintain MS-1 Report to set tax rate (due September 1 each year).
• Maintain Sales Ratio study for the state (due November 15 each year).