Norwich assessor tries to clarify tax valuation process to property owners

Donna Ralston, analyst William Lee explain the process during two workshops

Norwich — The city assessor held two workshops on Thursday to help explain the revaluation process to property owners.

Assessor Donna Ralston presented a PowerPoint slideshow to property owners with definitions and the exact steps that take place in assessing a property’s value.

Under state law, the process takes place every five years as a way to determine a fair market value of a property, she said.

For those frustrated, Ralston explained that not all values increase or decrease at the same rate. Since all properties have different sales and products, they can be valued at different rates.

Ralston also explained that comparing changes from one property to the next can lead to an inaccurate assumption. There are a wide variety of reasons why one property might be valued differently, including mistakes in the past or underreported statistics.

Ralston also pointed to the overall 8.47 percent growth of property value in the city since the last assessment as another reason for the increases. The 2013 assessment saw an overall drop in value of 34.8 percent as a result of the Great Recession.

For those with properties valued at less than $1 million who are frustrated with their assessment, Ralston plotted out several paths for them to fight back. First, one can fill out an application to appear before the Board of Assessment Appeals within 20 days of the grand list’s release. Otherwise, the property own

“If you don’t understand the quote, come see me. I will go through point by point. I actually enjoy this, so come see me.” WILLIAM LEE, NORWICH ASSESSMENT ANALYST

er can take the fight to Superior Court.

The board has heard 161 appeals; 41 were not heard because they were valued at more than $1 million, Ralston said.

She then handed off the podium to city Assessment Analyst William Lee, who provided tips to help someone get a better assessment.

The city urges all taxpayers to check the value of their properties at the assessor’s office or online at gis.vgsi. com/NorwichCT, Lee said. “If you have questions, come ask questions in our office.”

Lee also said that people might think assessors are always looking to raise property values. In reality, they are trying to get the most accurate information possible, sometimes raising and sometimes decreasing their assessments. He encouraged people to allow assessors on their property during the next revaluation. If they don’t have access, assessors are forced to assume and may overvalue or undervalue a property, he said.

“If you don’t understand the quote, come see me,” Lee said. “I will go through point by point. I actually enjoy this, so come see me.”

The 7:30 a.m. workshop saw about 50 property owners coming to ask questions and understand the process better. The 6 p.m. evening session saw about 10.

The assessor’s office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday in Room 132 at Norwich City Hall.

Ralston said her PowerPoint presentation will be available on the town website today.