By Pat Desmond
Times Staff
10/9/08

(previous)
For the average single family homeowner the tax bill is expected to increase about $200 this year. Although the town uses a quarterly billing process for tax bills, the bills are only mailed out twice a year. The bill due Nov. 1 was included with the bill due Aug. 1. Both of those were estimated bills.
The tax rate has not been set for FY 2009. It is
usually set sometime in November. Then the actual
bills go out by Jan. 1. One payment on that bill is
due Feb. 1.
Every three years the town goes through a revaluation process, as required by the state.
The results of the revaluation are now being checked by state officials in the Department of Revenue, DOR.
Although the state could require some figures to change, the assessors are releasing the new assessments and are making that information available on line, according to the town’s chief assessor Jeffrey d’Ambly.
That new information was not on line as the Times went to press this week. It will be available by Monday, d’Ambly said. What is on line is based on last year’s assessment.
The appraisal firm of Patriot Properties Inc. assisted the assessors with the revaluation project and has completed its appraisal of all taxable property.
The new data is for the Fiscal Year 2009. Until the new information is on the web, numbers for the FY 2008 tax year will be listed.
The site is searchable only by address. The assessors decided not to provide a search by owners name option – although the search appears to exist on the site because the link leads to the revaluation company and the company has the capability of an owners search.
To reach the data on line, go to www.townofmilton.org and then choose Town Departments, then Assessors, then Property Record Website. To get to the site directly type: http://milton.patriotproperties.com/default.asp?br=exp&vr=6 in your browser window and then hit enter.
The exact time the new figures will go on line is not known. There have been some computer issues, according to d’Ambly.
The adjustments to land and building values are based on a market analysis of all calendar 2007 sales and reflect values as of January 1, 2008.
The DOR is in the final stages of reviewing the new fiscal year 2009 values.
“These will be reflected on Milton’s third quarter tax bills to be issued by Jan. 1 and due by February 1, 2008, d’Ambly said.
“The Board of Assessors is releasing proposed values prior to certification by the DOR; upon final certification the tax rate will be set.
“The new assessments are available for public inspection between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the assessors office, located on the first floor of Town Hall; personnel will be available to help with any data corrections for a two week period beginning Oct. 14 through Oct. 24.
The asssessors’ office may be reached at 617-898-4863