Property tax abatements bring relief to some, as questions remain on assessments

UPDATE April 25, 9 a.m. Friday morning’s Board of Assessors meeting was cancelled.

After months of uncertainty and anger over sharp property assessment and tax increases, many Marblehead residents are breathing a sigh of relief as they receive long-awaited abatement (reduction) notices from the town. 

According to Board of Assessors Chair John Kelley, over 80% of the 344 abatement applications submitted were approved, totaling approximately $541,000 in reduced property taxes.

“The whole idea of doing this was to get it right,” Kelley told the Current.

The Board of Assessors meets Thursday morning to discuss the results of an audit of the recent assessment process. Assessor Karen Bertolino has been placed on paid leave during that process.

For Beth Wheeler, a longtime resident whose property valuation jumped 70%, the abatement was welcoming news. Her annual tax bill, which had increased from $7,300 to $10,300, will now be slightly lower than the previous year at around $7,200.

“I’m beyond grateful that [the Board of Assessors] diligently went through and did the right thing,” Wheeler said. “It’s nice to see a town take responsibility and say, ‘We see you. We hear you, and we’re going to look into this.'”

David Moran, a resident of Marblehead Neck for 35 years and a tax lawyer, also received a substantial abatement of more than $2,600.

“I think they guesstimated this and that and everything else,” Moran said. “And that was what broke the camel’s back.”

‘Everybody should have another bite at this’ 

Moran believes that the significant attention to the issue through neighborhood groups and local media facilitated change.

“The word got out,” he said. “Otherwise, we’d have to get at least 25 or 30 groups of people together, make a pitch to the board and likely end up in court.”

He added, “It would’ve taken longer and cost a couple of grand just to get that started.”

However, the process has raised concerns about those who did not file abatement applications before the February deadline, whether due to lack of awareness or understanding of the process.

“How would they know how to do that on their own?” questioned Wheeler. “People do not know how to do that.”

Kelley pointed out that the abatement application instructions were printed on tax bills and the newspaper. He said only those whose abatement we were submitted will receive an adjustment now. 

Moran believes that given the special circumstances and the problems with the assessment process, everyone should be given a second chance to file for an abatement

“I think because this is a special circumstance that hasn’t been properly done, the whole thing should be reviewed,” he said. “Everybody should have another bite at this and say, ‘Hey, I’m not paying this.'”

Audit findings 

At Wednesday’s Select Board meeting, members OK’d  $15,000 for Patriot Properties’ work reviewing and emailing decisions on 334 property tax abatement applications, which were sent out on April 18 and granted $541k in abatements. How residents will be reimbursed is the assessors overlay which is funded annually as a reserve for abatements and exemptions, according to Finance Director Aleesha Nunley Benjamin.

An additional $5,000 appropriation was approved for consultant Jim Doherty, the current assessor in Burlington who also owns a consulting business, to carry out an independent audit.

Kelley said Doherty is expected to “informally” present findings to the Board of Assessors on Thursday, April 25, followed by a final report on Friday or Monday. Kelley noted the $541,000 in abatements could impact the town’s budget and services, as those funds could have been used elsewhere. 

“It’s going to get into the exact specifics of what went wrong,” said Kelley, noting that land valuations appear to be a significant factor. “Looking at the abatements showed us there were some real problems with land.”

Wheeler, for one, is grateful that her reduced bill will allow her to pay down the student loans that she took out to pay for her son’s college tuition.

“I’m happy to pay my share,” she said. “I just don’t want to be paying more than I need to.”