Fiscal Year 2012 Assessments and Tax Bills

VALUES: property valuations were adjusted for Fiscal Year 2012 after analysis of real estate sales that took place in 2009 and 2010 and represent 100% fair market value as of January 1, 2011. Vacant residential land dropped an average of 4% to 5%, except for waterfront with an average increase between 9% and 10%. The average single family home property decreased between 2% and 4%. Many condominium values stayed the same or decreased slightly, and commercial properties decreased an average of 1%. In all property categories, some property values increased or decreased outside of these averages, due to building permits and other changes.

OWNER: Taxable property is assessed to the record owner on January 1, 2011.

TAX RATE: The fiscal year 2012 tax rate is $5.97 per $1,000 valuation. The Community Preservation surcharge is an additional amount, calculated each year by multiplying the total Real Estate tax by 3%.

TAX BILLS: The fiscal year 2012 tax bills, covering the period beginning July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2012, were mailed September 23, 2011.

ABATEMENTS: Abatement applications for fiscal year 2012 must be filed with and addressed to the Board of Assessors, not the Tax Collector AND must be postmarked or received in the Assessors Office on or before November 2, 2011. Application information is printed on the back of the first half bill. You may use the following link to download an abatement application in Adobe Acrobat Reader format.

Abatement Application

EXEMPTIONS: Exemption applications for qualifying* elders, veterans, blind and hardship can be requested from the Assessors Office by calling (508) 349-7004 ext 17. *Please Note: Only those persons whose Truro property is their domicile (primary residence) can apply for an exemption.

Property owner's rights and responsibilities for timely payments, abatement applications and exemption applications are fully explained on the back of the first half tax bill.