NORWAY — Norway officials committed property taxes Friday after weeks of debate over recent property revaluations.
The mill rate was set at $10.85 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, and tax bills were scheduled to be mailed this week.
The tax commitment was not on the Select Board’s Oct. 1 agenda. A special meeting earlier that week, however, made it likely residents would want to weigh in again on the revaluations conducted by the town’s contracted assessor, John E. O’Donnell & Associates.
The revaluations have angered many in the western Maine foothills community.
On Sept. 29, the Select Board was expected to discuss and vote publicly on the new tax commitment. Instead, members immediately went into executive session to meet with the town attorney.
When members returned, Chairwoman Sarah Carter read a prepared statement on the board’s behalf. It said board members lacked the legal authority to interfere with the assessor’s revaluations, which sent some property values skyrocketing. The board said it would instead provide the public with more information about how the town and John E. O’Donnell & Associates conducted the process.
“In an effort to address the concerns we have heard from the public, the town is drafting an FAQ (frequently asked questions), which will be made public as soon as possible,” the statement read. “If there are members of the public who feel that their valuations are incorrect, the Select Board encourages those individuals to follow the abatement appeal process that is set out by state law, and to contact the assessor’s office if they have additional questions regarding their valuations.”
Carter said the board’s regularly scheduled Oct. 1 meeting would include a citizens’ initiative item and invited members of the public to comment.
Norway residents again voiced concerns about the tax commitment and revaluation, echoing comments made at the board’s Sept. 17 meeting.
“My house was built in 1802. I purchased it nine years ago,” Tracey Chambers, who lives on Daniels Road in Norway, said. “We bought it for $250,000. And the new taxes that are coming out evaluate it at $900,000. So that’s quite a jump. Again, my house was built in 1802.”
Carter asked Chambers whether she had requested a meeting with John E. O’Donnell & Associates.
“I sent an email. I called. I haven’t heard back,” Chambers said.
“I do know they have made many adjustments based on emails, information and meetings,” Carter replied.
Matthew Glatz, who lives at 15 King St. in Norway, said he bought his property for $112,000 and its value rose to $349,015 after the revaluation. As he flipped through a thick stack of old tax commitment cards, Glatz told the board he had randomly surveyed 40 parcels assessed by four John E. O’Donnell & Associates assessors during the town’s previous revaluation.
“Maine state statute guidelines say homes should depreciate at 0.5 percent condition per year,” Glatz said. “Across the board, Norway parcels stopped receiving condition depreciation at 40 years. I have a line graph that I can show anyone, anyone who wants to see it.”
Glatz said the old tax cards had more than 40 categories of data, while the new cards under consideration had only nine.
“All of this data is what you would look at on your tax card when you argue your reval or valuations when you went to an abatement,” Glatz said. “But that data has been removed.”
Bruce Little, who owns property on Pikes Hill Road, asked Town Manager Jill Lathan when the town planned to commit the taxes.
“We are waiting for the tax commitment date,” Lathan said. “They have not been committed.”
“What are you waiting for?” Little asked.
“Our tax assessor lets us know when the taxes will be committed. It should be committed fairly soon,” Lathan said. “But we do not have the exact date yet.”
The town committed the taxes Friday, Oct. 2.
Over the weekend, two residents who had spoken at the board meeting weighed in again on the town’s Facebook page.
“You’ve just driven this town off a cliff,” Glatz wrote. “I cannot believe how absolutely short-sighted this board has been. I hope you’re prepared for the mass abatement class action which is about to be scheduled against these values.”
Chambers replied simply, “Omg.”
