The Select Board voted unanimously on Feb. 7 to sponsor a warrant article for the upcoming Town Meeting that would transition the Board of Assessors to an appointed (rather than elected) body under the Finance Department.
“The assessor’s department is responsible for $81 million of a projected $107 million that we have in revenue, yet they operate as a totally independent island,” said Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer. “That means all of the systems, the databases, the processes, staffing … everything is outside our bubble.”
The proposed restructuring comes amid growing public pressure on town officials to address accusations of unchecked hikes in property valuations and tax bills. It follows heated exchanges at the State of the Town address when residents interrogated the Select Board over a lack of transparency around assessments.
Many local residents are angry after receiving large property tax hikes they say vastly exceed home values and set dangerous precedents. They also argue assessments are inconsistent, with comparable neighborhood homes receiving substantially lower increases by 20-40%.
Under the current structure, Marblehead voters elect a three-member Board of Assessors operating autonomously from other municipal departments with its own staff led by a town assessor.
Select Board member Moses Grader has stressed the Assessor’s Office functions as “statutorily separate” from other municipal departments. The Select Board lacks “visibility into it,” he noted, but said ultimate accountability lies with voters who elect the Board of Assessors.
The warrant article would transition the assessor to an appointed body subordinate to the Finance Department leadership. The assessor would then report directly to the town’s chief financial officer — Aleesha Nunley-Benjamin.
“Frustration among residents over tax assessments made it clear there were issues with transparency and communication surrounding the assessor’s office, “ Select Board member Bret Murray told the Marblehead Current.
Officials argue the shift reflects best practices that properly situate assessing as an integral function of the town’s overall financial administration. They also feel it would also allow for greater coordination and oversight compared to the current arrangement.
Neither John Kelley, chair of the Board of Assessors or Assessor Kim Bertolina, responded to requests for comment.
The warrant for the 2024 Town Meeting in Marblehead has officially closed, and town counsel is currently reviewing the warrant articles.
Town Meeting is set for Monday, May 6, at 7 p.m. in the Veterans Middle School Auditorium at Duncan Sleigh Square, 217 Pleasant St.
