On Oct. 16 the Hopkinton selectmen and town assessor listened as about 50 of our fellow residents vented their frustrations with the recent adjustment of property values as a result of the conversion from CLT to the new Avitar Assessing System.

Board members have heard from many individuals, our friends, neighbors and residents on the street, about the recent bill and its effect on many of you as you wonder how you will find the funds to make the payment.

We also understand your frustration in feeling that "we" are driving many of you out of this community, a community that many of you grew up in, raised your family in and planned to retire in. Of course, that is not our goal.

We want to speak to you about the process you should follow to understand the new assessments, changes we intend to undertake to make the tax bills more understandable and how we can all work together to get a hold of this situation

The board approved the conversion of the software program from CLT to Avitar because the former system was difficult to use, prone to error and no longer adequately supported. The Avitar system is designed for New Hampshire and follows the assessing practices and laws established for assessing properties in this state.

The conversion required the town assessor to view all properties to ensure that values were brought up to 100 percent.

Unlike a "revaluation," this conversion had the assessor view each property to help him determine neighborhood classification, taking into account the quality of the road, topography, vegetation, housing quality and maintenance. A view factor was assessed in some cases, not unlike that applied for waterfront property.

In early September we began reviewing preliminary estimates of values, seeing that taxable land would increase 13 percent, buildings 32 percent and land in current use 4 percent.

Not long after the board signed the "Summary of Valuation" that reflected an increase from 2005 to 2006 of $147,901,233.

In reviewing the net appropriations from the tax-setting process, the town's tax effort rose $500,302 from 2005, the schools' net increase was $971,674 and the county rose $65,119. In breaking down the town increase, $278,819 represented the overlay (money used to pay for abatements) and the credits granted to war veterans. The balance, $221,483, represents tax dollars for budget operations.

One area that we will be working to rectify is the presentation of the tax bill, which has cause unnecessary misunderstanding by residents with land in current use. As noted on the tax bill, you have a "land" value, a "current use credit" should you have land in current use, a "building" value, then the total.

Residents noticed a reduction in their "current use" value from their first bill in May to the current bill. That is not the case. In fact, you are unable to determine your tax cost for current use from the data presented on the tax bill. This must be corrected.

Our goal will be to present the data on your tax bill such that it reflects the actual land value, the current use value, the building value and total.

It was requested during the selectmen's meeting that the board consider setting aside the current assessment and hire an outside firm to undertake a complete revaluation. This would cost $250,000 or more, and these funds were not appropriated by town meeting.

We recommend that you come into the town hall, review your assessment card and, if you feel you need to speak with an assessor, file the abatement paperwork. We will ensure an appointment is arranged.

We strongly recommend that you attend public hearings on the town, precincts and school district budgets in January.

In addition your participation at the town and school district meetings, ensure that your voice and vote are heard and will determine the level of spending, and taxation, within this community. (next page »)