Assessors' Office

The Assessors' Office is responsible for the administration of all laws and regulations regarding property tax assessment. The Assessors, as required by Chapters 59, 60A, 61, 61B, 121A of the Massachusetts General Laws and various Acts of the Legislature, perform the appraisal of approximately 15,000 parcels of property. This includes residential, commercial, industrial, utilities, and personal property. The Assessors process over 45,000 excise tax bills on motor vehicles each year. The Assessors establish the assessed value of property each fiscal year.

The Mayor and City Council determine the budget each year. A tax classification hearing is held each year in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The City Council votes to distribute the tax burden amongst classes as a result of this hearing. The Assessors then commit to the Treasurer/Collector the amount of taxes to be collected including betterments and water and sewer liens. The Assessors handle requests for abatements and exemptions through the avenues prescribed by the Massachusetts Legislature. The exemptions are for income-eligible elderly, surviving spouse, blind, infirm, and hardship cases.

This Department also is responsible for preparing cases for hearing and defending property values before the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board and for reporting all sales within the City to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The Assessors' Office works daily with the inquiries of taxpayers, planners, developers, builders, real estate professionals and others. The Assessors coordinate the revaluation process to comply with the laws of the Commonwealth and to achieve a sound base for fiscal planning within the City.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Board of Assessors is to value real and personal property efficiently, fairly and accurately, in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; to administer motor vehicle excise, exemption, and abatement programs; and to address concerns of members of the public quickly and courteously.