FARMINGTON — The Town of Farmington has hired KRT Appraisal to complete a full revaluation.

Two public information sessions will be held in early April, exact dates to be announced.

According to Maine Revenue Service, “revaluation” means the development of new property valuations by a firm through the introduction of new grading and pricing schedules, the updating of existing grading and pricing schedules, or the maintenance of an existing valuation system. A “full revaluation” includes measuring and listing all properties to verify existing assessment data. The end goal is for assessments to be adjusted to reflect market value as of April 1, 2025.

This creates equity and ensures a fair distribution of the tax burden across all property owners.

KRT will be updating existing grading and pricing schedules for property valuations and maintaining the existing valuation system by performing a full revaluation of assessment values. To accomplish this, KRT will complete five phases: data collection, sales review/validation, market analysis/valuation, field review, and informal Hearings.

During these phases, many tasks will be completed to ensure the full revaluation is successful.

Below is a general outline and explanation of each phase of the project.

The first phase, data collection of all property, was expected to begin in late 2023. Data collectors go to each property to measure the exterior of each building and attempt to inspect the interior if the owner is available at the time of the visit. Noted are the buildings’ location, size, age, quality of construction, improvements, topography, utilities, and numerous other characteristics both inside and out.

Collectors may also ask the homeowner a few questions regarding the property. To confirm that a home was inspected, the homeowner is asked to sign a data collection form. The data collected is subject to verification by the town assessor and a KRT supervisor. KRT field representatives will carry picture IDs, municipal letters of introduction, and have their vehicles listed with both the Assessor’s Office and Police Department.

Prior to starting the data collection, a postcard will be mailed to each property as notification that the property will be visited in the next few weeks. Data collectors will show up unannounced shortly after the postcard is mailed and ring the bell or knock on the door. If someone is home, they will explain who they are, with their KRT badge visible, and ask for an interior and exterior inspection.

If no one is home, they will assume it is okay to measure the outside of the building and proceed to do so. A letter will be mailed out towards the end of the project [early spring of 2025] asking for a phone call to schedule an appointment for an interior inspection.

The visit from KRT shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes from start to finish. Data collectors will not visit a property posted “No Trespassing”. Posted properties will receive a letter asking for permission to visit the property at a scheduled time convenient for everyone.

More information about the other phases of the revaluation and answers to frequently asked questions may be obtained at the Farmington Municipal building, 153 Farmington Falls Road or by visiting the town website’s assessor homepage, https://www.farmington-maine.org/municipal-departments/departments/assessor

After all five phases are completed, all data, files, records, etc. used in the revaluation will be turned over to the Assessor’s Office for retention.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Union Fair, Wild Blueberry Festival dates scheduled

Next »

Local band Goblins and more to play West Farmington Grange