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 2024 Board of Assessors are as follows: Deborah Ricard/Chair, Broooke Bovard/Secretary, Denis O’Regan, Tom Wheeler, Shana Pinter, Steven Curley and Sachin Puranik (Elected Nov. 2023)

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 2023

The 2024 Board of Assessors convened Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at 7 pm at the BWVC.

Board of Assessors Meeting Times & Agenda Topics 2024

Mon, Jan 15, 7:30 pm – Premises for Assessment, A Rate & Lot Sizes
Mon, Feb 12, 7:30 pm – B Rate & Initial ADU Discussion
Mon, Mar 11, 7:30 pm – Factors & Continuing ADU Discussion
Mon, Apr 8, 7:30 pm – C & D Rates & Continuing ADU Discussion
Mon, May 13, 7 pm – Public Forum
Mon, May 13, Following Public Forum – Continued ADU Discussion
Mon, May 20, 7:30 pm – Extra Work Meeting, if needed
Mon, Jun 10, 7 pm – Public Forum
Mon, Jun 10, Following Public Forum – Continued ADU Discussion
Mon, Jun 17, 7:30 pm – Extra Work Meeting, if needed
(Agenda topics subject to change as needed.)

All 2024 BOA meetings may be accessed via Zoom:

Meetings held on Jan 15, May 20 and Jun 17 will use Zoom Meeting ID 841 9640 0437 & Passcode 723191.

Meetings held on Feb 12, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13 and Jun 10 will use Zoom Meeting ID 849 0133 2925 & Passcode 246740.