For assessing software, the town of New Sharon has been using LOTUS APPROACH CAMA (Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal) software called “DWELLING,” since the town was revalued in 2007. There are about 1,350 individual parcels that are in the database. About half have structures on them.
The State developed DWELLING software for its own use and has allowed towns to use it free of charge. It uses the Maine State Assessing Manual for style, deprecation, factoring, etc. Although LOTUS APPROACH is older, the DWELLING (CAMA) software still works well and prints one of the best and easiest to understand property record cards available.
Prior to CAMA assessing calculations had to be done manually. With CAMA all the property value characteristics are entered into the computer, which then generates the individual depreciated structure and land values. Every year all the new property owners must be entered.
If an annual update is not done the CAMA data becomes unusable for generating town-wide valuations until the missing annual updates are entered.
In 2015, the New Sharon Select Board hired an Assessor ($10,000/year) who had no experience or training in the use of the DWELLING software. The Assessor started entering the 2015 sales data by manually calculating the values and entering that information into the TRIO SHORT ASSESSING PACKAGE, a data-base program the town uses to transfer the final DWELLING data into TRIO Tax Billing software. Eventually the Assessor got some outside help and was able to partially function with the DWELLING software.
In 2016 the Selectmen bought the TRIO FULL ASSESSING PACKAGE (CAMA) for $6,300 on the assumption that the historic DWELLING CAMA data could be imported into it. Additionally, Trio charges about $1,500 annually to use that module. (In 2017 the town paid Trio $8,600 in annual fees for the various Trio modules.)
Unfortunately the DWELLING CAMA data can not be exported into the TRIO FULL ASSESSING PACKAGE.
In 2017, inexplicably, the Selectmen authorized the Assessor to enter the 2017 updates into the TRIO FULL ASSESSING PACKAGE without verifying if the CAMA data could be imported. The 2016 names, addresses, values, etc. were already in the TRIO tax billing software from the previous year but no CAMA data from which the values are derived.
When the 2017 tax bills came out, the newly listed property owners had values and deprecation from TRIO whereas the rest of the taxpayers had values and deprecation from DWELLING. The taxpayers are not being treated equally.
Now the Town’s historic CAMA data is in jeopardy without a major correction expenditure.
Here are three possible options for correcting the problem:
1. Hire someone with Dwelling experience and enter the 2017 updates into DWELLING and keep using DWELLING software. Estimated Cost: $1,500 – $5,000?
2. Hire someone with Dwelling and TRIO experience to key in the CAMA data into TRIO. Estimated Cost:$15,000 – $25,000?
3. Or the Selectmen could ask the voters for a new town-wide revaluation using TRIO. Estimated Cost: $150,000?
Whatever option is taken, the New Sharon taxpayers will be picking up the cost!
Maynard Webster
New Sharon
Pretty sure we’ve picked up cost before for individuals, this town needs to keep going forward in the direction the new board has taken it, we finally got out of doing things the way they did in th 50’s, it’s 2018, it’s time to move forward.
No mention of these assessing problems are made in the 2018 “Selectmen’s Report”. At the upcoming Saturday annual Town Meeting. The Select Board should advise:
1. If there is a problem, and what will it cost New Sharon taxpayers to fix?
2. Why is the Assessor receiving a 50% increase in pay from $10,000 to $15,000?
3. If Article #10 ($10,000) and Article #32 ($10,000) are approved will this money be used to fix the assessing problems claimed by Maynard?
It should be noted that Maynard Webster was a Selectman for 38 years, has been a Certified Maine Assessor for 40 years, and for decades managed New Sharon assessments with few problems and no extra pay for his efforts.
That’s probably why we’re in the mess we’re in now.
Apparently, the Selectmen were/are planning to use the Technology Fund, Article 10., ($10,000 + $5,000 left over from last year ($15,000 total)) to fund a CAMA data transfer to Trio without asking the voters for their input?
It’s folly to spend $15,000 to move the assessing data from Dwelling to Trio at this time. (To move all the data, the real cost could be much higher.) If desired, the move to Trio could occur at the next revaluation at no additional cost because all of the data is new and it doesn’t matter which software the CAMA data is typed into.
To keep using the Dwelling software there are 50-75 CAMA records (2017 transfers) that would have to be typed in. ($1,500 to $5,000) If moving to Trio there are about 1,300 CAMA records that will have to be typed in ($15,000 to $25,000).
Article 10. and Article 32. each need to have a no vote to shut off this frivolous spending.
I believe there are some major assessing mistakes in Dwelling, if that indeed is what has valued the property I own in Town. I find $25,000 for a one acre parcel with no septic or water is unusually high. An independent appraisal two years ago estimated the value at $10,000. Wish I could sell it for $25,000.
Maynard if you know so much about this why don’t you go over to the town office or even the select board meeting and bring this up and find out what exactly is going on, and if you help out in the matter, instead of complaining and try to make the board look like they don’t know what going on.
Ever sense you got voted out you been try to find ways to impede progress on this board, how about try to work with them and not again them, try that and see where it get you, you just might find out that everyone is willing to work with everyone.
thank you and we’ll see you at the town meeting such be a good one right.
Both Spencer and Maynard should step up to the plate, and become more than key board warriors.
Darlene…. They are residents of the Town and should be able to give their opinions… You have already blamed them for ‘the mess the town is in’… You and ‘New Sharon Resident’ should consider ‘cooling your jets’… and not be afraid of criticism from anyone in town…
glen holt I have also said if you got a complaint that cool, now give a solution, don’t try to beat the dog to the ground, that all I see complaint, complaint, complaint, complaint, try coming up with answers
Yeah, commenting on the bulldog solves all the town’s problems, I don’t recall seeing your name on attending any board meetings Glen Holt? Come join us March 20, don’t just be a keyboard warrior. I attend everyone, well I like to be informed by the truth not a random opinion of someone who was never even there.
Glen Holt, meeting March 20th at 5:30
I am astounded and disappointed at the level of disrespect and sarcasm aimed at Mr. Webster by someone well connected to a prominent business in the area. You would all do well to remember that New Sharon is a small Maine town, not an affluent bedroom community for the cities. We should be looking to our experienced elders for guidance in these matters.
Mr. Webster, thank-you for your articulate letter offering leadership and solutions that get the job done and save the taxpayers precious coin.
3 or 4 years ago,I had a problem with my tax bill. I went to the town office + asked the procedure for an abatement.I was told in new Sharon you call mr Webster, which I did. contacting him at home, I explained my concerns. It turned out,I was being charged for a garage that I did not have and was granted the abatement.Then I could not get it credited with the town. I finally just deducted it + paid my bill .thank you Mr Webster
A couple of you could take a course in spelling and sentence structure before you start telling the Town of New Sharon how it should be run…. I won’t name names and and you won’t recognize who you are… Sorry I won’t be able to attend the fiasco…
Glad I wasn’t the only one, I don’t live in New Sharon so I have no dog in the fight but was also astounded by the tone struck here.
Darlene Power, do you really think speaking down to people and being condescending is the best way to represent the board in New Sharon? I’m not questioning your reason for feeling however you do, just the idea that a member of town government would talk to citizens this way…is…deplorable and does not foster the exchange of information or ideas.
Pure, I don’t understand If you have no dogs in the fight why are you even involving yourself in our town business. As for Darlene Power she is a resident of New Sharon who I believe has every right to say how she feels about town issues and people as long as she has proof to back up what she says and I know she does. As for her being condescending while representing the board… just so you and everyone not from town she is not a member of the board she is a concerned citizen that attended all selectman meetings to keep up with what is really happening in our town.
As for “disappointed” Mr Webster has in the past done some things to benefit the town and towns people but what no one ever seams to remember or want to talk about is all the Ideas that were put in place because of Mr. Webster and the board at that time that no good for the town or towns people.
Remember not everyone is perfect and we all are entitled to our opinion but remember before you try to defend someone make sure you acknowledge both the good and bad because in some cases the bad very well out way the good.
As for you Glen Holt, I agree with Darlene you are just like Maynard and Spencer. The three of you are Key board warriors…you guys bitch on here but never show up at any selectmans meetings to help come up with ideas or join a committee to help improve the town you sit home on your computer and tell us what the town is doind wrong and then tell us to “cool or Jets”
Once Dunkin Donuts opens on the corner of 2 & 27, let’s meet there, sicoffee’s on me.
I also find it amazing, I sat right between Maynard and Spencer yesterday town meeting, neither one offered any explanation, Spencer wanted to discuss Maine winters, we had a fine conversation. My jets are as cool as Ice Glen, but I appreciate your concern.
I’ll just keep my mouth shut… I am afraid of pit bulls..
Glen Holt that not the only meeting they have, can we see you at the next selectman/woman meeting or are you going to be like Darlene said you and others are just keyboard warriors.
I knew Webster and Thompson would not say anything about this article they just complaint and have no solution or trying to help the board members. Hows the old saying money talk and bulls… walk which one are you
Sorry, cannot make it… It is just to far to drive there from Key Largo… But feel free to read my original comment and tell me what I said that was wrong…. EOS for me…
Glen, before I get into the problems I have with your original comment I have looked and can not find your name as a property owner in New Sharon. Do you own property here? or are you one of the out of town keyboard warriors defending two people that have been mentioned that have in the past and not so distant past for that fact causing trouble in town? As for your comment about us towns people not being able to take criticism, well the people of new sharon are open to truthful criticism and not for out of town people defending the people who have been proved to have messed up our town.
I don’t need to re-read your comment, because your opinion does not matter to me unfortunately, and isn’t going to make a difference, darn I was really looking forward to meeting you, remember I extended the offer of kindness, you found an excuse.
So sorry… I did not know you did not have to be a property owner in order to make comments… I won’t do it again. I promise..
Bow wow, woof, woof, most people like dogs better than most humans, so Glen I take that as a high compliment all the way from Key Largo Florida.
Thank You
Let’s hope the dunkin doughnuts and dollar general never open, not what we need.