METHUEN — Data collectors will be going door to door in the next few months to measure and inspect all buildings and structures in the city as part of a periodic reassessment.
Michele Mastrangelo, the city assessor, said the reassessment is required as part of a certification process by the state and must be completed no later than every nine years. Methuen plans to be re-certified by 2015, she said. The last certification process was in 2007-08.
“In order to ensure a successful measure and list of all properties, the Board of Assessors is requesting the full cooperation of all taxpayers in this state-mandated endeavor,” Mastrangelo said in a statement. “The data collection process requires an inspection of the interior as well as a measurement of the exterior of all buildings. The interior inspections by the data collectors will take approximately 10 minutes and is necessary in order to determine the full and fair cash value of the property and to create equitable assessments as of January 2014.”
The state definition of full and fair cash value is 100 percent of a property’s “fair market value, which is the price an who owner is willing, but under no compulsion, to sell ought to receive from one willing, but not under compulsion, to buy.”
The property values will be based on an extensive analysis of real estate sales that have taken place. The entire project from start to finish will take approximately one year to complete. The results of the reassessment will not be reflected in a property tax bill until December 2015, Mastrangelo said.
Patriot Properties, Inc., of Lynn, was awarded the contract to assist with the project.
All of Patriot’s data collectors will have proper picture identification in view and the Methuen Police Department will be aware of the data collector’s identity and vehicle registration information. Mastrangelo said the data collectors work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Any residents with questions regarding this project should contact the Assessor’s Office at (978) 983-8530.
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