BOARD OF ASSESSORS

Official Assessment Responsibilities
Official Administrative Responsibilities
Public Information Policies and Fee Information
Form and Application Deadlines
View or Print Motor Vehicle Excise Abatement Form
FAQ
E-Mail

Assessor's data is now on-line click here.

Three Year (Overlapping) Terms; Three Members; Meetings are held twice monthly as posted.

Official Assessment Responsibilities

• Classify and determine "full and fair cash value" of all real and personal property according to Massachusetts General Law (Chapter 59).
• Review and act upon all real and personal property abatement applications.
• Process all motor vehicle abatement requests.
• Review and process all exemption applications for qualifying elderly, widowed, blind or disabled veteran citizens.
• Review all applications for accuracy regarding tax incentives for land used for recreational, forestry or agricultural purposes.
• According to Department of Revenue mass appraisal standards, implement a revaluation of the Town's real and personal property, every three years.

Official Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintain property records concerning all structures and residencies including: building area, number of bedrooms and baths, condition and type of heating system.
• Update the Town's Assessor Maps, which contain information such as parcel numbers, and land area.
• After committing the yearly assessments and tax amounts to the Tax Collector for billing purposes, the Assessors must generate a copy of the tax commitment and make it available for public inspection.
• The Assessors must maintain and store all applicable public records including: property record cards, ownership and deed information, betterment records, exemption records, real estate records, personal property and excise records, and property sales.
• Provide relevant information such as "new growth" to the Department of Revenue, Town Accountant and Board of Selectmen, in order for the tax rate to be set timely.

Public Information Policies and Fee Information

 For Telephone Inquiries:

The following information may be obtained by telephone-

• Owner name and mailing address
• Parcel identification number
• Land area
• Deed book, deed page, deed date
• Tax rate

· Property Valuation

For Office Inquiries:

• Deeds for the current year are not available to the public, but are available at the Registry of Deeds in Northampton, MA.
• The prior 10 years of deeds are available for viewing or purchase.  All prior years will require a 10-day waiting period with payment in advance.
• Plans and surveys are available in the Belchertown Planning Board Office or Registry of Deeds in Northampton, MA.

Copies:

• $1.00 per property record card
• $1.00 per page for deeds
• $1.00 per reduced size of tax map (11x17)

Fax:

• The Assessors Office does not fax any documents

Mail:

A pre-paid written request must be received by the assessors office before mailing copies of any documents.

Fees are as follows:

• $1.00 per each item

Abutter's List:

There is a $25.00 fee for a certified abutter's list for a specified parcel.  The Assessors have up to ten days to respond to a written request.

Board of Assessors Form and Application Deadlines

February 1^st:

• Real and personal property applications for abatement

March 1^st:

• 3ABC Application Forms for Charitable Property owners.
• Personal Property "form of list" applications
• Farm animal excise applications

Month of March:

• Personal exemptions are due 90 days from the mailing of the 3rd quarter actual tax bill.

May 1^st:

• Forest product cut forms - chapter 61

July 1^st (Beginning of the Fiscal Year):

• Chapter 61, contact forester deadline - new/renewal certificates
• Filing of personal exemptions begins

September 1^st:

• Chapter 61 forestry certificates - New/ renewal due in assessors office

October 1^st:

• Chapter 61A Agricultural/Horticultural applications due
• Chapter 61B Recreation applications due

December 31^st:

• Motor vehicle excise applications for abatement from prior calender year

All requests for forms and inquiries should be addressed to the Assessors’ Office:

Phone (413) 323-0413
Mail:  Assessors' Office, 2 Jabish Street, PO Box 515, Belchertown, MA 01007-0515.
Email: assessors@Belchertown.org