Revaluation delay proposal roils council

HOULTON – Homeowners may like an idea that could work to delay increased property valuations next year – shelve the results of the soon-to-be completed municipal revaluation for a year so that those affected can contest it.

The matter came up at the Town Council meeting on Monday evening, after Councilor Paul Romanelli proposed postponing the implementation of the revaluation until July 2006.

The issue will be discussed at the next council meeting, but Romanelli’s proposal to temporarily set aside the revaluation raised some eyebrows during the two-hour gathering.

“I am not changing the process or trying to stop the revaluation,” Romanelli contended. “I want to see it postponed. I think people need to have a chance to contest it.”

The revaluation has been a thorn in many councilors’ sides since it was approved by a 4-2 vote in May 2003. Some members maintain that an increase in property values could pose a hardship to homeowners, especially senior citizens.

It was the council’s consensus that, generally speaking, when a town is revalued, the worth of most property increases. The municipal tax rate often declines, however, since fewer mills are needed to raise money from property that is worth more.

The town is paying William Van Tuinen Tax Appraisal Services $160,000 to complete the study, which is expected to be finished in April 2005.

Councilor Carl Lord agreed with Romanelli’s assessment that officials have been in a “hurry-up offense” in terms of getting the revaluation and other controversial measures passed.

Lord reminded the group that the board of budget review voted 5-1 last year to stop the process, but the council moved it forward.

The most impassioned plea in support of rejecting Romanelli’s idea came from Councilor Paul Cleary.

“So we just spent all of this money [for the revaluation] and we aren’t going to do a thing with it?” Cleary asked incredulously. “We are sending the wrong signal here.”

The councilor maintained that not all property values would skyrocket as a result of the study, and said that he thought it was “crazy” for the council to postpone the results after two past councils have propelled the venture forward.

“That doesn’t make a heck of a lot of sense, but I’m sure I’ll be saying that a lot this year,” Cleary said.

Councilor Mike Blanchard agreed with Cleary. “To put a stop to this is foolhardy,” he argued. “I expect the valuation on my home to go up because I’ve made improvements to my home. If my home goes up, I deserve to pay, plain and simple.”

Romanelli pondered during the discussion how the actions of past councils played into the latest debate. A former council chairman, he contended that whatever he had done on past councils was “turned upside down” when new members came aboard.

“You guys rammed through a few things that, frankly, I wouldn’t have,” he said. “I am not saying there is anything wrong with the revaluation, I am just saying, what is the hurry.