Middlesex & Essex combined reassessment
by Larry S. Chowning
The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on July 20 to partner with Essex County in hiring a real estate reassessment firm. The two counties will soon seek bids.
Middlesex officials have been trying for years to establish a regional reassessment program, but have been unsuccessful. “If we are successful with this regional concept, maybe other counties will join in,” said Middlesex County Administrator Charles Culley.
The reassessment needs to be completed by January 2012, and Culley hopes the new real estate appraisal firm that is hired will start by developing an entirely new real estate database.
The last reassessment in Middlesex was done at the height of the real estate boom. Since then, the economy and property values have taken a downward spin.
Supervisor Pete Mansfield said he hoped the field reassessment workers who visit homes will be courteous and polite.
Mansfield also wanted to interview the field representatives who would work in Middlesex, but Culley and other supervisors felt this request was unreasonable.
“I think they ought to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time,” said supervisor Carlton Revere. “They should know something about real estate too.”
Revere and Mansfield were referring to the last county reassessment firm, which was criticized for allegedly employing workers who knew very little about local real estate.
In another matter, the board approved a disaster assistance resolution that will allow farmers to receive federal low-interest loans for loss of crops and livestock.
County extension agent David Moore also indicated there may be other types of assistance relief “hanging in the lurch that our farmers might be eligible for.”
Moore estimated the county has suffered $3.7 million in crop losses due to drought conditions and excessive heat. It has been one of the hottest summers on record, he noted.
The largest losses have been in corn, but soybeans still have the potential for major losses, he said.