New Britain herald., 1928-02-13
ASSESSORS REPLY
 TO THEIR CRITICS
Say Raises Were Necessary and EYduatioDs Fair
COMMITTEE IS APPOINTED
Selectmen Name Men to Work on
 Revaluation Parents Teachers Select Standing Committees - Crossing and Forest st. Hearings.

N The board Of assessors, n an open letter to the taxpayers of Flainville. today answered critics who have been complaining of a1lesedlv unjust increases in their property revalua- tions. The letter. given to the Herald by Chairman Stanley NJ Smith. states the assessors belief that the raises were necessary and that the values fixed are fair. The board also places itself on record as in favor of revaluation. as an outside company with its record keeping systems would give the as sessors a sound basis on which to work.
 "To the Taxpayers of the Town of Flainville,
 We wish to take this opportunity to correct the feeling and to explain the reason for the recent increase ln the assessed values for the year 1927,
 Just first. the expenses of the town have increased approximately $SS.0no over last year due to various treasons. The budget was accepted by the voters at previous town meeting. This left it. up to the board of assessors to increase the grand list or values, or otherwise let the rate be raised to H9 or 30 mills It was the assessors belief that a. higher valuation and lower rate vas a great deal better than the op- posite. At least, this what the SO called experts base their methods on and the state law governs values as follows: All taxable property shall be assessed to it's full market value, , What IS full market value' This IS for board of assessors 10 deter mine We endeavored to establish this on q 75 to So per cent basis and we feel that Tn nearly every in stance fwith exceptions of few and clerical errorsl that your values are not over this percentage,
 The law also states that every town shall have complete revalua- ton at least once in every ten years and the board of assessors felt this an opportune time to start such work, With very little detailed in- formation available we started this work and completed the dwelling houses. barns and garages, We did not touch the land because of an i'm possibility of eaualizinG the same without maps giving the front foot age and the depths, If such maps were available and the land valua- tions completed. 1t would probably mean that some of the houses would be adjusted. some lowered from their present increases and some raised, all depending on the size and dimen- s,ons of the lot.
 There have been several re- marks passed in different places and at the recent town meeting that the assessors guessed at their values and that their work was completed Eaphazart1ly. The board of asses sors take exception to these state menSs and would like to state at this time that the assessment work was carefully planned and every house. i barn, and garage was taken into con sderation as to it's location, aprroxi- l IIiiL' q eVS " It'' H'Hl IL li1I SoS bath. electric lights. hardwood floors | etc, before a value was placed on 1 it. We insist that our values with 8. few exceptions are just and fair. and We trust that this will relieve the criticism and explain the troubles arising from the assessors recent charity work.
 l We would also like to state at this time that we are in favor of an outside appraisal company com pleting our work. If it will the feel ing against the assessors.
 1 We would call your attention to the issue of February II. 1927. of the Hartford Ccufant or Times in the East Hartford news where 800 people appeared before the board of relief. and this town has just com pleted 2 revaluation This shows that eyep with experts there will te criticism and dissatisfaction. We