Norway property owners file mass abatements after first revaluation in 20 years
Taxpayers challenge new valuations by John E. O’Donnell & Associates, citing a $7 million budget overage and a burdensome documentation process.
By Justin Barnes ·
Norway residents are challenging their new property assessments by filing abatement requests with the consulting firm that conducted the town’s first revaluation in nearly two decades. The pushback intensified at the Nov. 5 Select Board meeting, with the first half of property taxes due Nov. 15.
State-certified municipal consulting firm John E. O’Donnell & Associates performed the revaluation earlier this year. The resulting tax spikes led many community members to urge town officials in September to question the new valuations and delay implementation for at least a year.
The Select Board subsequently set the property tax rate at $10.85 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. At that time, officials told residents the board lacked the authority to intervene in the specific assessments. Many taxpayers have since filed abatement requests directly with the firm, which is based in New Gloucester.
Norway resident Matthew Glatz stated that the town faces a substantial budget shortfall due to these challenges. He reported that Town Manager Jill Lathan told him there is upward of $7 million in abatement overage in the town's budget.
Troy Ripley, who owns several properties in Norway, criticized the abatement process after receiving a detailed questionnaire by registered mail. Ripley described the letter from the firm as a delay tactic designed to wear down applicants. He noted the request included a long list of required information for the firm to proceed with the abatement.
Glatz read from a response letter sent to resident Bill Quimby, who was not present at the meeting. The letter from John E. O’Donnell & Associates requested insurance certificates, appraisals, sales history, mortgage details, rental leases, and renovation history. It also asked for evidence of unjust discrimination, business income data, and the owner's opinion of value.
Ripley said he has contacted the firm to ask how the assessment was conducted so he can respond appropriately. He claimed the firm has been unresponsive to his emails and phone calls. "I’m sure you can at least appreciate my frustration with that," Ripley said.
Town Manager Lathan stated that the firm is using a universal method for abatements that complies with Maine state statute and law. She described the process as standard and not egregious. However, she acknowledged uncertainty about whether the specific questions in the letters are standardized or determined individually by assessors.
Select Board Chairwoman Sarah Carter agreed to contact John E. O’Donnell & Associates for clarification. She said the goal is to ensure the board understands the process better. Some residents also suggested replacing the firm with an in-house assessor. Lathan explained that model is increasingly uncommon and difficult to staff, proposing instead a combination of contracted assessing with enhanced clerical support.
Glatz said he still believes the revaluation was inappropriately applied. He has collected enough signatures to initiate a recall petition aimed at ousting the Select Board. State law requires separate petitions for each selectman, with signatures equaling at least 10 percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Resident Sally Holt supported hiring an in-house assessor and urged residents to participate in the spring budgeting process to understand the long-term implications.
