Arden Board of Assessors

established by the Act to Reincorporate, section 7

The Board of Assessors is an independent body of seven assessors. It is not a committee of the Town Assembly, but the Board does make reports at town meetings.

The Board of Assessors establishes the land rent rates for Arden leaseholds, according to the principle of “full rental value” of the land. The “Community Standard of Living Method of Arden Assessment” defines total “Full Rental Value” of the leaseholds as the sum of town expenses (both “non-budget” in the form of county and school taxes, and “budget” as embodied in the town’s budget), and the cost of administering the trust, while maintaining a “prudent reserve”. This method divides full rental value by acreage of land held privately in leaseholds, such divisions determined by assessors’ formulas. The formulas, which are intended to reflect the relative value of leaseholds, are based on lot size, zoning privileges and location factors. Since there is no formula as to how to calculate “full rental value,” this is no simple task.

Nominations and Elections

Nominations are made at the September town meeting; election is by referendum in the fall, using the Hare System of Proportional Representation, a type of Ranked Choice voting.

The 2022 Board of Assessors are as follows: Deborah Ricard/Chair, Vicki Scott/Secretary, Brooke Bovard, Denis O’Regan, John Scheflen, Elizabeth Varley and Tom Wheeler. (Elected Nov. 2021)

Assessments

The recommended assessment for the following year is presented at the June town meeting (4th Monday in June, 7:30 p.m.)

Links

Board of Assessors – Town Charter

Click here for Committee Descriptions: full text (This web page includes the description of the Board of Assessors)

Convening Meeting 2022

The 2022 Board of Assessors convened Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. at the BWVC.

Board of Assessors Meeting Times & Agenda Topics 2022

Wed, Jan 5, 7:30 pm – Premises for Assessment, A Rate & Lot Sizes
Wed, Feb 2, 7:30 pm – B Rate & Initial ADU Discussion
Wed, Mar 2, 7:30 pm – Factors
Wed, Apr 6, 7:30 pm – C & D Rates
Wed, May 4, 7:00 pm – Public Forum
Wed, May 4, 7:30 pm – Continued ADU Discussion
Wed, May 25, 7:30 pm – Work Meeting, if needed
Wed, Jun 1, 7:00 pm – Public Forum
Wed, Jun 1, 7:30 pm – Work Meeting, if needed
Wed, Jun 22, 7:30 pm – Work Meeting, if needed
(Agenda topics subject to change as needed.)