Hollis Select Board Transparency Archive

770FD608-EB64-40CE-A0C3-D969BCF0023A

Mailer and/or Materials for Website

From

• Mike Harnois <[email protected]>

To

• Bennet Flinner <[email protected]>
• Danielle Bradbury <[email protected]>
• Roger Hicks <[email protected]>
• Daniel Yarumian <[email protected]>
• Jack Rogala (Select Board) <[email protected]>
• Richard Morin <[email protected]>

Date

Sat, Jul 18, 2026 · 6:08 a.m. ET

• Hollis_Reval_FAQ_Final.pdfNot posted

  The original PDF is not in this public copy. The words copied from it are below.

  Read from the file

  Property Revaluation Frequently Asked Questions for Residents This FAQ is provided to help residents understand the upcoming Special Town Meeting vote on the Hollis property revaluation ("Reval") and what it means for you. PART 1: The Special Town Meeting Vote What is a property revaluation and what is the purpose? A property revaluation is a periodic update of property assessments. The purpose is to equalize property values in line with current market rates to ensure fair distribution of the tax burden for all taxpayers. By State standards, this should happen every 10 years or when the town’s certified ratio falls outside the 70% – 11 0% range. Why is there a Special Town Meeting about this? A previous town meeting vote did not pass the appropriation for the revaluation. However, the money was already set aside in the town budget and was not new spending. The Special Town Meeting gives residents a chance to reconsider and authorize using those already - budgeted funds to move forward. The special town meeting is scheduled for August 5 th, 2026. What exactly are we voting on? A special vote is being held to appropriate (authorize the use of) funds already set aside to hire a qualified assessing firm to conduct a full property revaluation of all properties in Hollis. For this to pass, the majority vote would need to be YES. Who is the proposed vendor? The town has selected our current assessing agent, O’Donnells & Associates to perform the revaluation. O’Donnells is an experienced assessing firm with a long track record of successful revaluations and long - term partnerships with Maine towns. This is not the lowest bidder - and that is intentional. A failed revaluation in 2017 that went with the lowest bidder cost the town money and set the process back years. The goal this time is to do it right. PART 2: What Happens If We Delay Again? Isn't it fine to wait a little longer? No: Hollis is already well past due. The last completed revaluation was in 2000. That's over 2 6 years ago. The state requires towns to maintain a minimum average assessment ratio of 70% and a quality rating below 20. Hollis currently fails both standards. The impact of further delaying a revaluation is far greater than completing one ASAP!

  Current Hollis numbers (as of the 2025 tax year): ● Average assessment ratio: The certified ratio for 2025TY was 62%. The projected ratio for the 2026TY is 52% ● Quality rating: 19 ( state limit is below 20 — we are right at the edge) ⚠ Hollis is one step away from a state violation. Continued delay risks mandatory state intervention. What does the town actually lose by waiting? Real money. E very single year. Once the Town’s certified ratio drops below 70%, the Town loses 10% of state reimbursements annually. This directly impacts: ● Tree growth and current use reimbursement amounts are reduced greatly. If the ratio goes below 60%, the town loses the t ree g rowth reimbursement entirely, an estimated ~$38,000 – $40,000 per year. ● Reduced state reimbursement for exemption programs like the Homestead and Veteran’s exemptions. ● Homestead and Veteran Exemptions are already significantly reduced based on the current certified ratio. Qualifying property owners are not receiving the full amount of these exemption they are entitled to. ● Risk of state penalties and mandatory revaluation: if Hollis falls further out of compliance, the state can step in — and a state - mandated reval is far more disruptive and expensive than one we choose and control. The BIG, s cary q uestion: Will my property taxes go up? A revaluation does not mean your taxes will automatically increase. With that said, yes, s ome property owners may see an increase in their taxes while others will stay around the same. Some might actually see a decrease. It’s all about having accurate data. And remember: t he total amount of taxes collected is determined by the Town and school budgets. A revaluation doesn't raise the overall tax burden — it makes sure everyone pays their fair share of it. What happens to the tax rate and certified ratio after a revaluation? The Mill Rate (or Tax Rate) for the 2025 TY was $15 per thousand of a property’s total assessed value. As a result of a revalu a tion, the mill rate typically drops a few dollars, sometimes more. Again, the mill rate is depending on the town and school budgets! Just because the assessed value goes up doesn’t necessarily mean your tax bill will go up too. The certified ratio will go up to 100% allowing for state reimbursements to be received again as well as qualifying property owners to receive the full amounts for the Homestead and Veteran’s Exemptions! Full Exemption amounts deducted from the property’s total assessed value: Homestead = $25,000 Veteran = $6000

  PART 3: Key Points from the Workshop ● The 2017 reval failure was a cautionary tale. Going with the cheapest option cost the town money and trust. This time, the focus is on a qualified, experienced vendor with a proven track record; not the lowest bid. ● The money is already there. A key misunderstanding at the last vote was that this was new spending. It was not, and it is not now. The funds are budgeted. Voting YES simply authorizes their use. ● We are losing a significant amount in state reimbursements every year a revaluation is delayed. Every year of delay is money out of the town's pocket with the burden landing on taxpayers. ● The goal is a long - term relationship, not a one - time fix. The proposed vendor provides ongoing annual assessing services after the reval, keeping values current and preventing Hollis from falling this far behind again. ● Large commercial properties matter to all of us. If commercial properties aren't properly assessed, the tax shortfall shifts onto residential property owners. Getting commercial assessments right protects homeowners. Questions? Attend the Special Town Meeting or contact the Hollis Town Hall.

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