HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-05 Board of Assessors MinutesTO: The Reading Board of Assessors
FROM: David Billard, MAA
DATE: 12/05/97
REF: Appraiser's Report
1. The PILOT agreement amendment has been signed and notarized for The United
Church Homes. The payment issued for FY1998 reflects the amendment.
2. We have received from Peter Hechenbleikner a request for release of overlay surplus
on January 30th, 1998. I have attached an overlay account worksheet that can be used
to release surpluses for each of the respective years. I have added a column of
revised/omitted assessments, which the Boar,' c~i . ~.dvise on the necessity of. Given
that Chapter 58 section 8 can potentially go bade et three year period, it would appear
wise to leave a modest amount in the account tl,,~ event it is needed.
3. The abatement application deadline has passed; February 2, 1998 was the last day to
file. The final count of timely filed applications for FY1998 is 77. FY1997 there
were 96 and in FYI 996 there were 140.
4. The FY1998 excise commitment is prepared to signed. The bills are scheduled to
be mailed on 02/06/98. As you can see from the commitment, it is a very large
billing containing some 19,000 bills, with a value of 1,562,221.80. The FYI 997
commitment contained some 17,000 bills and was for a value of 1,300,000, both
figures prior to abatements. The bills will be printed and mailed through Paul Kelly's
office as they were last year.
5. 1 have received from Steve Gasperoni a bill for the appraisal of 1-15 Lakeview
Avenue. I have placed on warrant for payment the $1,500 fee for preparation given
the Boards acceptance of the Appraisal. As you are aware, the FY1996 and FY1997
contentions at the Appellate Tax Board for this property have been withdrawn, the
FYI 998 application for abatement is ready to be acted upon. As far as pending
appeals, I be ,eve that Reading's docket has been cleared.
6. The FY199 budget has been submitted, prelirm.,, rily, with the inclusion of $25,000
for the personal property recollection/valuation and $ 1,000 for the printing of the
valuation list. An alternative to includinn the Dzj,; 0 in the l, Y 1998 budget would
be to seek the funds at the February Town Meeting. The warrant closes for the
February Town meeting on 02/17/98.
7. We have received on January 29th, 1998 from The Reading I lousing Authority
through Ms. Plansky a request for a paymeni in i ._~u-of tax agreement for units 401
and 501 at Gazebo Circle. The Authority h«s Possession of these units as of
August and November 1997. 1 can start the paperwork for these agreements with the
Boards approval. I am waiting on one deed from the Registry.
Page 2 ap020598.doc cont.
8. We have already received close to 325 of the annual 425+- applications for
exemption. The deadline for filing is March 19,1998 at 5:00 PM. The first reminder
mailing is going out next week to approximately 100 FYI 997 filers potentially
needing to file for FYI 998. This year, filers seem to be very diligent.
9. The annual mailings of the Form of Lists and iABC's have been done. Returns are
already being filed. These forms are submitted by March 1, 1998.
10. I have placed a call into Banker & Tradesman, Judy Gannon specifically. I have had
a number of inquiries from appraisers and have a hard copy of erroneous information
that is being accessed on Reading parcels -via ' ranker. & Tradesman. Any situation
where information accessed on-line from B kcT is -,rrect, please obtain a hard copy
so that I can submit it to them for explanation /correction.
CC: Elizabeth Klepeis- Treasurer/Collector
CC: Peter Hechenbleikner- Town Manager