The Office of the City Assessor determines the property value of homes, businesses, and all taxable and non-taxable real property (land and improvements) and personal property (business equipment) in the city. The Assessors Office is also responsible for processing annual overvalue abatement applications as well as excise abatement requests. This office processes over 800 property tax exemptions annually. These tax exemptions are for senior citizens over the age of 70, widows and widowers, disabled veterans, and blind persons. Through the Building Permit application process, the Assessors Office is also responsible for reassessing any property physically changed during the course of the year.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue mandates all municipalities to conduct a triennial (every three years) re-evaluation of all real and personal property. The Board of Assessors must conduct this re-evaluation pursuant to the guidelines for development of a minimum re-assessment program established by the Department of Revenue (DOR). All values must be certified by the DOR in writing prior to the city's annual tax toll and tax rate being set. The Board of Assessors is responsible for the annual tax rate necessary to raise the tax dollars, in accordance with Proposition 2 ½, to fund the annual operational budget.

Important Notice - 6/18/2008

Current Tax Rates  (Per $1000 assessed)

Services Provided Include:

• Assessor's Database
• Affidavits of Address for Property Owners
• Blind Persons
• Mailing Address Changes
• Personal Property Assessment
• Excise Tax Bills & Abatements
• Abutters Letters
• Ownership Changes
• Sales Reports
• Tax Exemptions for:
• • Senior Citizens
  • Disabled Veterans
    
  • Blind Persons
  • Widows and Widowers
  • Surviving Minor Children