The NH Board of Tax and Land Appeals Hearing that was scheduled for July 11, 2008 was canceled. The property owners, Amarosa Family Beach (Docket #'s 22021-05PT & 22783-06PT) withdrew their appeal.
The assessing office received many calls and inquiries in person after the letters were sent out informing property owners with access to the municipal sewer had updated land values. These land value changes were the result of a needed correction because some properties did not have their land assessed with taking access to the town sewer into consideration. Each inquiry was given a full explanation and supporting documentation when requested. In addition, some corrections were made based on the information provided by the property owners.
The Town's tax maps have been revised for 2008. Copies of the revised maps are now available for reference in the Town Hall and in the Assessing Office. The owner's lists have also been updated.
Final data input from the 2008 data verification operation conducted by Avitar was done on 8/14/08. Avitar did the data entry for our system remotely from their office in Chichester as an experiment. If we can continue to have data entry done remotely, we will not have to have our work interrupted to allow Avitar access to our computers in the office and our costs will be kept down.
The MS-1 will be completed and sent to the Board of Selectmen for signatures on time again this year and will be mailed to the Department of Revenue prior to the 9/1/08 due date. The MS-1 form details all of the real estate values, exemptions, and credits in Winchester and is one of the components used in setting the new tax rate in November.
A form has been created so that eligible property owners may apply for the Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive (RSA 79-E) that was adopted at the March 2008 Town Meeting. The Selectmen must approve the application form as well as set the application fees and durations of the various types of property tax relief that are available.
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