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NOTICE: AS OF June 28, 2021, SHUTESBURY TOWN HALL WILL RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
ASSESSORS' OFFICE HOURS WILL BE:
MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS: 10 a.m. - Noon
The Administrative Assessor is available on Saturdays and other times by appointment.
- To make an appointment with the Administrative Assessor, go to https://shutesbury-assessor.appointlet.com
Board of Assessors meetings will continue to take place through web conferencing, per Governor Charlie Baker's March 10, 2020 Executive Order and its subsequent extension through Aril 1, 2022.
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How AMP Energy's Proposed Solar Development Could Affect the Tax Rate
An analysis of how AMP Energy's initial financial proposal could affect Shutesbury's tax rate is available here.
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Did you know?
There are 342 fireplaces and 194 wood stoves installed throughout the homes in Shutesbury.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FISCAL YEAR 2021 TAX ABATEMENTS
The deadline to file an application for a Fiscal Year 2021 real estate or personal property assessment is 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February 1st.
Applications (with a guide to fill one out ) are available on request from the Assessors' Office. Please call us at 413-259-3790 or e-mail us at assessor@shutesbury.org
Applications must be made using the proper state form. Click here to download.
List of 2018-2019 real estate sales used in calculating FY21 assessments (click here)
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Fiscal Year 2021 tax rate: $22.61/$1,000 of valuation
(Certified by MA Department of Revenue on 11/30/2020)
Fiscal Year 2021 Property Tax Information: (from the MA Department of Revenue [May 7, 2020])
"Assessors are required by Massachusetts law to assess all real and personal property at its fair cash value as of January 1 each year. Fair cash value correlates to fair market value, the price a willing buyer and a willing seller would settle upon in an open market transaction. Property assessments are retrospective in Massachusetts and based on the market conditions that occurred in the previous calendar year. The date of value for the assessments for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2021 reflects January 1, 2020. Sales Analysis will demonstrates that assessments are at or near the statutory standard of fair market value and that there are not significant variances in assessment levels among the property classes. This is measured by an assessment to sales ratio with a median that must range between 90% to 110% for all classes. This requirement maintains an equitable approach to the allocation of the property tax burden. Finalizing assessments for Fiscal Year 2021, the assessor will review the real estate market in calendar year 2019. While it's not possible to completely ignore the financial collapse of certain businesses due to the COVID-19 crisis, the assessor is expected to minimize the influence of this new information by viewing through the eyes of market participant as of the assessment date, the beginning of the year."
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Notice of Virtual Public Hearing - Town of Shutesbury
Tax Classification Hearing
In accordance with Chapter 369 of the Acts of 1982, the Select Board will hold a public hearing at 5:45 PM on Tuesday, November 17, and continued at 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, on the issue of allocating the local property tax levy among the classes of residential, open space, commercial, industrial, and personal property. All interested taxpayers are invited to attend and may present oral or written information on their views.
Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, Sec. 18, and the Governor’s March 5, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people who can gather in one place, this meeting of the Shutesbury Select Board will be conducted via remote participation. Instructions for participating in the virtual Public Hearing will be listed on the meeting agenda posted on the Town website.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS PRESENTATION
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Second Home Verification
The Assessors' Office is sending letters to owners of second homes in Shutesbury asking them to verify whether the property in question is a principal residence or a second home.
These letters are being mailed the week of November 17, 2020. These verifications are part of an audit the Department of Revenue has asked us to complete by our Fiscal Year 2023 recertification of values.
If you receive one, thanks in advance for responding to us by December 31, 2020.
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The Board of Assessors is always willing to discuss individual assessments with property owners.
Please call the Assessors’ office with any questions or concerns.
Fiscal Year 2020 tax rate: $24.04/$1,000 of valuation
Fiscal Year 2020 Assessed Values (alphabetical by property owner)
ONLINE GIS MAPS AND PROPERTY INFORMATION
Useful Information and links:
Search Franklin County deeds here (select "Name Search" or Property Search" among Search Criteria at top of webpage).
Department of Revenue - Division of Local Services' videos on municipal finance topics
Motor Vehicle Excise tax information
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Abatement Form
Information on documents needed when filing a Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Abatement Application
Personal Property tax & Exemption information and forms: https://www.mass.gov/lists/pr
Property-tax-forms-and-guides
- Veterans Exemptions information
- Elderly Exemptions - income and asset limits
- Community Preservation Act Exemption Information
- Taxpayer's Guide to Legally Blind Persons Exemption
- Taxpayer's Guide to Local Property Tax Exemptions - Seniors
- Taxpayer's Guide to Local Property Tax Exemptions - Veterans
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This reminder is for all Chapter 61 property owners that your applications are due on or before October 1st. Recreational (61-B) and Agricultural (61-A) applicants are required to apply every year by October 1st. If you are classified in Forestry (61) and have a Forest management plan which expires at the end of 2020, your completed application and updated forest management plan also should be received by the Board of Assessors by October 1st.