For immediate release: May 16, 2024
Contact: City Assessor Philip Drew
Telephone: 207-992-4211
Email: phil.drew@bangormaine.gov
Bangor to begin
two-year property revaluation project
BANGOR, Maine – The City in June will begin a two-year
revaluation project that will appraise more than 11,000 real estate parcels in
Bangor in an effort to establish more equitable property values for all classes
of property: residential, commercial, land and other types.
The project is necessary because the last citywide
revaluation was conducted in 1987. In addition to establishing more equitable
valuations across all properties, a revaluation ensures that accurate property
data is collected. The public’s participation in this project will help ensure
that data is accurate. A primary goal of the project will be to correct
disproportionate taxation by valuing all property at fair market value as of April
1, 2026.
Maine State law requires that municipalities perform a
revaluation whenever the ratio of assessment to sales price drops below 70
percent. The City right now is narrowly meeting Maine’s minimum assessing
standards, in part because it’s relying on property data that in some cases
date back to the 1980s.
City Assessor Philip Drew spoke to the City Council’s
Government Operations Committee in August 2023 about the need for a citywide
revaluation, and provided further updates during a Council Workshop on May 13. Residents
are encouraged to attend informational sessions that will be held to explain
the revaluation and answer questions.
The first session is scheduled for Thursday, May 30, at 6
p.m. at the Downeast School at 100 Moosehead Blvd., and a second one is planned
for Tuesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. at the William S. Cohen School at 304 Garland
St. A third session will be scheduled for a later time and the intention is to have a remote option for this forum.
The City has contracted with KRT Appraisal to conduct the
revaluation and data collectors with that firm will identify themselves to
property owners and carry appropriate identification. Their vehicles will be
marked with an “Assessor’s Office” magnet. Notices will be sent to residents a
couple of weeks in advance that provide an approximate date for when KRT will
be in their neighborhood. KRT Appraisal’s website, www.krtappraisal.com, also will have a
timeline for residents.
KRT will knock on all doors where it’s conducting an
inspection, and any property without an inspection will receive a letter
requesting a call for an appointment. Representatives with KRT will only enter
a home or property if an adult is present.
In addition to property owners, tenants also should be aware
that data collectors will be knocking on their doors for an inspection, which
generally doesn’t take long.
For answers to questions that are often asked about revaluations,
please follow this link
to the webpage for the City Assessing Department.
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The City of Bangor,
Maine, is a service center community of 31,753 residents and is the county seat
of Penobscot County. Bangor is the major commercial and cultural center for
much of northern and eastern Maine. The City is an equal opportunity employer
and service provider. For information on City projects and news, see
www.bangormaine.gov.