Assessors Office

BOARD MEMBERS:
Daniel Keeney, Chairman
Steven LaPrise, Clerk
Fred Henshaw, Member

The Assessors meet every other Wednesday of the Month at 12:00 p.m. at 2 School Street, Baldwinville, MA. Please refer the Upcoming Meetings Calendar.

Deputy Assessor: Susan Byrne, MAA
Administrative Assistant: LuAnn Royer

• 2011 Preliminary tax bills are out, these bills are based on the FY2010 assessments, the FY2011 assessments and tax rate will be reflected in the January 2011 bills.
• Taxpayers who may qualify for a Real Estate Exemption for FY2011 may now come by the office to fill out their applications. These exemptions will be reflected on the 3rd and 4th quarter bills.

FY2010 Tax Rate - 11.75

     Assessors are elected or appointed locally in Massachusetts's cities and towns. The Assessors are required by Massachusetts Law to list and value all real and personal property. The valuations are subject to ad valorem taxation on the assessment roll each year. The "ad valorem" basis for taxation means that all property should be taxed "according to value", which is the definition of ad valorem. Assessed values in Massachusetts are based on "full and fair cash value", or 100 percent of fair market value.
     Assessors are required to submit these values to the State Department of Revenue for certification every three years. In the years between certification, Assessors must also maintain the values. The Assessors review sales and the market every year and thereby reassess values each year. This is done so that the property taxpayer pays his or her fair share of the cost of local government, in proportion to the amount of money the property is worth, on a yearly basis rather than every three years.
     In addition, the Department administers the Motor Vehicle and Boat Excise taxes and betterments.
     The Assessors do not raise or lower taxes. The Assessors do not make the laws, which affect property owners.The Massachusetts Constitution requires that direct taxes on persons be proportionately and reasonably imposed. In addition, the Declaration or Rights, Part I, Article 10, requires each individual to bear his fair share of the public expenses.
     The Assessors are required to annually assess taxes in an amount sufficient to cover the State and Local appropriations chargeable to the City/Town. These taxes assessed will include State and County assessments which have been duly certified to the Board and local appropriations voted by the City Council or Town Meeting.
     The Assessors Office has nothing to do with the total amount of taxes collected. The Assessor's primary responsibility is to find the "full and fair cash value" of your property, so that you may pay only your fair share of the taxes. The tax rate is determined by all the taxing agencies within the community, and is the basis for the budget needed to provide for services, such as schools, roads, fire, law enforcement, etc. The tax rates are simply those rates, which will provide funds to pay for those services.


Maps and Assesments:

• 2009 Assessors' Maps
• FY2010 Real Estate Assessments by address.
• FY2010 Real Estate Assessments by name.

Notify Assessors Office of Change of Address.
You have the option of downloading the form and mailing it, or completing and submitting the form online:

• Download PDF Form and Mail to Assessors Office
• Complete Form Online

Taxpayer Information about Personal Exemptions:
Download PDF

Motor vehicle excise abatement application:
Download PDF

Documents to assist the elderly:

• 2011 Guidelines for Clause 41c (Elderly Exemption)
• 2011 Guidelines for 17D (Widow/Widowers or 70 and Older Exemption)
• State Tax Form 96-1 - Seniors Application for Statutory Exemption
• State Tax Form 96-2 - Surviving Spouse Application for Statutory Exemption
• State Tax Form 96-3 - Blind Application for Statutory Exemption
• Clause 37 Blind Tax Exemption