My assessment increased more than 2.5 percent. Doesn’t Proposition 2 and a half limit the amount my assessment can increase?

Proposition 2 and a half limits the amount of taxes a community can raise from property tax. The assessment is an estimate of market value. Since the real estate market changes are based upon the buyers' and sellers' needs, there is no limit to the amount an assessment can increase or decrease. Assessment changes are always based on the real estate market. For example, if a property sells for $500,000 in the calendar year 2019, there is no limit or minimum price it would sell for in the calendar year 2020 or beyond. It could sell for $600,000, $700,000, $1,000,000 or $400,000. The sale price would be based on the real estate market at that time. The assessments do not predict market value. The assessments reflect (or report) market value.

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1. What do the assessors look at when determining an assessment?
2. Why did my assessment change a different percentage than the assessment on my neighbor’s house?
3. What does my assessment represent?
4. My tax bill has gone up more than 2.5 percent. Doesn’t Proposition 2 and half limit the tax increase?
5. My assessment increased more than 2.5 percent. Doesn’t Proposition 2 and a half limit the amount my assessment can increase?
6. I am elderly and cannot afford this tax bill. Can’t the assessors lower this assessment because I am elderly?
7. I am a young person who grew up in Leominster and cannot afford this tax bill. Can’t the assessors lower this assessment because I can’t afford to live in Leominster?
8. My neighbor told me not to let a representative from the assessors’ office into my house. Do I have to let the assessors into my house?
9. My neighbor does not allow the assessors in and I do. Am I being penalized?
10. Why do the assessors want to see the interior and exterior of my property?
11. Why did my assessed value increase when I did not do anything to the property in 5 years and I am not selling the property?
12. Why could my assessment change every year?
13. The taxes are too high. Soon I will not be able to afford to live in Leominster. Why are you raising my taxes every year?
14. My assessment increased 20 percent. Does that mean my taxes will increase 20 percent?
15. I think my assessment is out of line with my neighbors’ property, whose property is assessed lower. How do I get my assessment to be as low as theirs?
16. Do I have to apply for an abatement every year if I received one in the past?
17. What is the difference between an abatement and an elderly exemption?
18. My neighbors’ house assessment used to be higher than mine, now my assessment is higher than theirs. Why?
19. My neighbors have a two-family property and I have a single-family property. Why is my single-family property assessed higher than their two-family property?
20. A house three times larger than mine sold up the street from me for $600,000. Will that make my assessment go up?
21. What will happen to my assessment if I put an addition on my property?
22. Why is the previous owner’s name still appearing on the tax bill?
23. My assessment went up 25 percent, is that good news or bad news?
24. My next door neighbors have done work on their house, a new kitchen, new bathroom and an addition. How come their assessment has not gone up?
25. I have a new house and recently I received a supplemental tax bill for the same fiscal year. Why did I receive more than one tax bill for the same property for the same fiscal year?