We Have Opinions About Taxes, Too...

I logged into this site and noticed the figures for average tax rate, income...etc.

As a resident of Jasmine Road on Packard Pond since 1984, I've watched taxes go up gradually until last year.  I know we were previously somewhat undervalued, however a 50% jump in one year is criminal.  Because I work hard, improve my property and the overall beauty of the region I'm penalized.

Assessing the fair market value of properties is reasonable.

 My home's value has increased. That's fine, but I have no intention of ever selling this house, so market value means nothing to me except more expenditure. 

 

My reasoning: The average tax bill listed  = 1521.00.   My bill is just below 3800.00 because I live on waterfront property.  Last year it was around 1900.00. Add a couple hundred more for excise taxes and Orange takes 4000.00+ per year out of my pocket.

 

For the most part residents of Jasmine Road have their own water and sewer systems, have no children in the school systems.  Orange doesn't even recognize Jasmine as a town road and does not plow it.  

 

There are 9 homes bordering Jasmine Road. If each is taxed approx. 3500.00,  that's a net of $ 31,500.00 for  ZERO representation.  

For 31K per year, would it be too much to ask that a snow plow take 5 minutes to scrape our 1/10 of a mile street ?

 

Since I do not take anything from the town, why don't I get a refund of some sort for not adding to the overcrowding of schools.  People that do not have children in schools should not have to support those that continue to reproduce and contribute to the drain of funds. 

 

My feelings:  pay for what you consume.   

The town's attitude of:   'If you live on waterfront property, you can afford it'  just doesn't fly.

 

Steve Fariole  

Dear Steve: Fair property taxes are guaranteed under Massachusetts state law. Taxes might be unreasonable, but they may not be arbitrary or capricious. The law says cities and towns have to re evaluate their assessments every three years to make sure taxes are fairly reflecting current  values. The simple standard is to figure out what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller in an arms length transaction. OK. Having said that, if your ranch house has a fireplace and mine does not, we have to adjust for the value of the fireplace. But tax values are not adjusted according to whether you have a child in school or a street that gets plowed.

Having been a member of a board of assessors for five years, I can tell you none of this is that simple and some of it makes for really exciting courtroom debate. A judge refused to allow the City of Worcester to send out tax bills some years back until the city proved it was assessing things correctly. That got their attention.

Assessors' records for the most part are open to the public. So you can go to Town Hall and compare properties. Or you can go to and Assessors' meeting and talk to them. They are elected. And you might meet some folks who work pretty hard to keep things running right.

OTG