Assessors value all property within the community every year and submit these values to the Department of Revenue for certification. Wilbraham, as do most towns and cities of the Commonwealth, follows uniform guidelines set forth by the Department concerning values. These values must be based on “full and fair cash value,” the amount a willing buyer would pay a willing seller on the open market. Assessors must collect, record and analyze information about property and market characteristics in order to estimate the fair market value in the community. These new values were developed by the Assessors to reflect current market conditions based on 2012 sales. The Department of Revenue has reviewed all procedures, schedules and values submitted.
According to Chairman John Wesolowski, “Preliminary certification of the proposed values has been received from the DOR. They acknowledge that we have complied with all of the guidelines.”
A list of the proposed property values (as of January 1, 2013) will be available for review for all Town residents, business and property owners. They will be located at the Wilbraham Library, the Town Office Building lobby and the Assessors Office from September 23, 2013 to October 4, 2013. All questions, comments and concerns shall be directed to the Assessors office between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Property value cards may be reviewed in the Assessors Office. Errors discovered in the descriptive details of a property must be brought to the attention of the Assessors. Such errors shall be corrected before the proposed valuations are finalized.
Wesolowski noted that “The law provides any taxpayer that is aggrieved with the
finalized and certified valuation the right to file for an abatement. This has to be filed
after the actual tax bill is mailed in December and before February 3, 2014.”