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 2023 Board of Assessors are as follows: Deborah Ricard/Chair, Vicki Scott/Secretary, Elizabeth Varley, Brooke Bovard, Denis O’Regan, Tom Wheeler and Shana Pinter (Elected Nov. 2022)

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 2023 Board of Assessors convened Monday, December 5, 2021, at 7 pm at the BWVC.

Board of Assessors Meeting Times & Agenda Topics 2023

Mon, Jan 9, 7:30 pm – Premises for Assessment, A Rate & Lot Sizes
Mon, Feb 13, 7 pm – B Rate & Initial ADU Discussion
Mon, Mar 13, 7 pm – Factors & Continuing ADU Discussion
Mon, Apr 10, 7 pm – C & D Rates & Continuing ADU Discussion
Mon, May 1, 7 pm – Extra Work Meeting, if needed
Mon, May 8, 7 pm – Public Forum
Mon, May 8, Following Public Forum – Continuing ADU Discussion
Mon, Jun 12, 7 pm – Public Forum
Mon, Jun 12, Following Public Forum – Continuing ADU Discussion
Mon, Jun 19, 7 pm – Extra Work Meeting, if needed
(Agenda topics subject to change as needed.)

All 2023 BOA meetings may be accessed via Zoom:

Meetings held on Jan 9, Feb 13, Mar 13, Apr 10, May 8 and Jun 12 will use Zoom Meeting ID 861 8504 8780 & Passcode 903996.

Meetings held on May 1 and Jun 19 will use Zoom Meeting ID 823 8230 5155 & Passcode 317297.