commentary | opinions
The Rosen
Report
Inflated assessments are costly to many homeowners Gary Rosen
D
uring the hot real estate market of 2002, my wife and I paid $220,000 for our modest home in the June-Chandler streets area of Worcester. We like the house, the neighborhood and the many services that this city has to offer. That’s why we stay. While we’ve discussed moving to Maine, now is the wrong time to sell because it’s a buyer’s real estate market. And our house really needs some upgrades so we probably couldn’t even sell it for the price we paid 10 years ago. However, Worcester assessor, Bill Ford, believes that we could sell our house for its new assessed value of $281,000. Now Ford is a throwback to the days when City Hall personnel acted like they were doing you a favor just by talking to you. But arrogance and sarcasm are not what shocked homeowners need when they question inaccurate and unreasonable property assessments. The assessed value of a home represents the amount a willing buyer would pay a willing seller on the open market. So, in this depressed housing market, the $281,000 assessment on my 60-year-old, 1700-square-foot house is more inflated than Bill Ford’s ego. A year ago, after our 2010 assessment of $261,000 climbed to $272,000 for 2011, I filed for an abatement. Mr. Ford’s response was that satellite photos alerted the city to a bedroom that a previous owner had added on to our house 30 years ago. Like many Worcester homeowners of today, evidently he chose not to take out required remodeling and construction permits to avoid paying higher property taxes. While the assessed value of my land has decreased by $27,000, that’s really just a tease. The city immediately took back that relief by raising our house value by almost $36,000. It was even worse
for a neighbor whose building value for no apparent reason was increased by more than $60,000. Last week I attended the District 5 revaluation public meeting. The more than 100 angry homeowners present couldn’t believe that local residential assessments have decreased on average by 3.8 percent. The assessor responded to dozens of questions but failed to provide these homeowners with plausible reasons why their assessments have skyrocketed. Before that meeting started, I sought a decrease in my home’s new assessment by asking Bill Ford to lower its grade (condition) from “Average to Good” to Average. But he said they would have to inspect the interior of my house to do that. So in order to rectify their over-assessment of my property, I’ll have to submit to an entirely different process than the drive-by method used to appraise the property of all other city homeowners. After the City Council sets the new and painful residential tax rate, my annual property taxes on Herbert Road will be around $5,000. If inflated assessments and unreasonable property taxes become the norm in Worcester, middle- and upperincome families won’t see our city as an appealing place to live. What a blow that losing them will be to our schools, businesses and economy. Once again, my wife and I will pay our tax bill and then file for an abatement. We’ll check off “overvaluation” on the form. Unfortunately, we can’t assess our own property. After Bill Ford bought his house on Salisbury Street, its 2010 assessed value plummeted from $897,600 to $687,200 in 2011. And now in 2012, it’s down to $620,000. But that’s what happens when the fox is allowed to guard the hen house.
I was impressed with Worcester Mag’s interesting interview of Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme by Doreen Manning and Jeremy Shulkin. After tough questions which included the number one concern of Chief Gemme, Worcester crime and lack of support from the courts and newspaper. There should never be any major controversy between the local news media and
EOPLE STREET ON T HE
How did this year’s mild winter affect you? ASKE D AT TH E WORCESTE R COM MONS AREA
It affected me in a good way. It was easier to drive, and I didn’t have to worry about car accidents or shoveling.
Linda Kocivelli ALBANIA I like it, because now I can skate outside more.
Cameron Deumaine WORCESTER
I’ve enjoyed it. I don’t have to worry about cleaning out my car, the awful Worcester roads, and now it’s 80 degrees and enjoyable, and I can’t complain.
Sarah Hovagimian CLINTON
Gary Rosen may be reached at editor@worcestermag.com.
Letter A chat with Chief Gemme
slants rants&
the police department. There isn’t a [topic] in our great country more important than local police, especially today. Our country records show that thousands of police officers have been killed while on duty. Finally, let’s stop this controversy between newspaper and police chief Gary Gemme because the only losers will be Worcester citizens. We have a great city, let’s keep it that way, and thanks to your staff. R AY M ON D J. PE R R ON E Worcester
Well, it’s been good because it’s been easier for me to visit my wife in the hospital, and I like the sunshine.
Pierre St. Laurente PAXTON It’s been good. But, with the quick change from cold to warm weather, it can make you sick. I was sick for four weeks.
Dutch Bouyer BOSTON PHOTOS BY EMILY HORSBY
Tell us how you really feel Letters to the editor should be legible, signed and brief (preferably no more than 200 words). A daytime telephone number must be provided for verification. Worccester Mag reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, libelous or offensive material and style. Send letters to: Letters, Worcester Mag, 101 Water St., Worcester, MA 01604 or E-mail: editor@worcestermag.com, or fax: 508-749-3165 MARCH 29, 2012 • WORCESTERMAG.COM
9