WESTFIELD – The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has given the city of Westfield preliminary certification for the Fiscal Year 2013 Revaluation. The last revaluation took place in fiscal year 2010. Now begins the “public disclosure” phase of the process where property owners can view the Fiscal Year 2013 proposed values. The proposed values will be available today through October 30 at the Assessor’s office in City Hall, Room 120, during business hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or at the Westfield Athenaeum during its regular business hours Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 8:30a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Property owners can also contact our office at 572-6223. Values can also be viewed on our website: cityofwestfield.org, click on “Departments” and follow the prompts to the “Assessors” webpage. Like any other work day the assessor’s office will be available to answer any questions you have.
With the help of local real estate agents, brokers and willing buyers, Westfield has not experienced the down turn in the market as others towns have seen. On average residential homeowners will see a 1-3 percent increase in assessed values while commercial and industrial values have stabilized or decreased during the same time period. Due to many factors all properties do not change in value to exactly the same degree: location, style and market availability are some examples of the factors considered during the selling process.
It is important for taxpayers to note, when looking at the proposed valuations, that increases in value do not translate to higher taxes, increased spending leads to increased taxes. Lower spending leads to lower taxes even if the values increase.
Assessors have the legal responsibility to discover and reflect the changes that are occurring in the marketplace. The sales are analyzed, according to the price on the deed, registered with the Registry of Deeds in Hampden County. The individuals who have paid these prices for their homes or businesses have set the market here in Westfield.
Once the disclosure period is over, the values will again be submitted to the State for final approval. The tax rate will then be set by the City Council members according to the budget numbers.
