The Marblehead Assessors Office will release preliminary property valuations for fiscal year 2025 ahead of schedule as part of efforts to increase transparency following last year’s assessment errors that overcharged many residents and prompted hundreds of abatement requests.
Todd Laramie, who started as assistant assessor last week, said the preliminary valuations will be available for public review at Abbot Hall at 188 Washington St., the Assessors Office at 7 Widger Road and the Abbot Public Library at 235 Pleasant St. The documents, organized by street address, will be posted at marblehead.org, with Laramie urging residents to check it in the coming days.
“We’re confident in the values,” said Laramie, a Marblehead native who previously served as assessor in Hamilton. “The process is back to how it’s supposed to be.”
The early release covers approximately 8,400 parcels and represents a departure from typical procedure. The assessments are based on 2023 calendar year data.
The move follows a period that began in January when the Assessors Office received 334 abatement requests — the highest number since the 2008 housing crisis. The spike prompted an independent review that revealed procedural errors in the assessment process.
Jonathan Lederman, a member of the Board of Assessors, explained the rationale for the early release.
“This gives the community a chance to look at their individual valuations before they get released as tax bills,” Lederman said. “If there are concerns, they can come into the office and sit down with Todd.”
The town contracted with Patriot Properties and brought in temporary assistance to help rectify the assessment issues. While next year marks Marblehead’s scheduled five-year revaluation, officials opted to advance much of that work to address immediate concerns.
Laramie’s local knowledge has proved valuable in his new role, Lederman noted. Born and raised in Marblehead, he brings both professional expertise and familiarity with the community.
“That makes a massive difference in his ability to look at a property, know neighborhoods,” Lederman said. “Someone says a street name, he knows where it is.”
The new assessor has begun coordinating with the building department and tax collector’s office to track new growth and property improvements.
Laramie views the reevaluations as an opportunity to restore public confidence in the assessment process.
“If I can help better explain how the process works to somebody, then I feel comfortable at the end of the day,” Laramie said.
The preliminary valuations require review by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services — which occurs after the Select Board sets the tax rates usually in mid-November or early December —before being finalized. Property owners who spot potential discrepancies are encouraged to discuss their concerns with the assessors’ office during this preview period.
“We want to make sure we get it right,” Lederman said. “We’ve been working extremely hard to basically fix the mistakes that were made last year.”
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