Public Disclosure for FY25 Property Values
In compliance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, section 56, the Board of Assessors have completed a revaluation of all real and personal property in the Town of Hawley. Hawley has received preliminary certification from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue for all properties for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).
Analyses of real-estate transactions from January 2022 through December 2023, as well as regional data, were reviewed during the revaluation. The values were adjusted to reflect full and fair cash value as of January 1, 2024. Overall, compared to FY24, real-estate and personal-property values have increased 4.64 percent. (Note: the actual percentage change on individual tax bills will differ as the tax rate has not been set yet).
The preliminary values will be available for public viewing for five business days beginning November 4 and ending November 12. Public Disclosure is available for public review by clicking the links provided here showing “FY25 Assessed Values” and “Personal Property Values.”
A list of the assessed values will also be available on the bulletin board in the entryway at the Hawley Town Office.
Basic inquiries can be made via email to assessor@townofhawley.com from November 4 through 12, or at the Town Office on Wednesday, November 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Friday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Disputes or more detailed inquiries must be made when the Assessors are available on Wednesday, November 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. or Friday, November 8, from noon to 4 p.m. If you would like to speak with the Assessors, please notify our office in advance so that we have your detailed information available.
In order to keep our values at 100 percent of fair market value, we updated our dwelling cost tables and adjusted a couple of our land influence factors. Primary lots that are pre-existing in the floodplain now have a 10 percent value reduction; and good views are now 25 percent of the primary lot value while excellent views are 50 percent of the primary lot value. We also did an extensive review of personal property accounts which resulted in a few additional accounts being added and a fair amount of utility new growth.
Based on these valuations, the overall taxable value of the town has increased by $2,799,500, or 4.64 percent. The average individual property value may be increasing by approximately 4 percent.
We thank you for your cooperation throughout this process.
Ed Brady, Chair
Jeff Carantit
Wayne Lemoine
Hawley Board of Assessors
About the Assessors
The Hawley Board of Assessors are responsible for maintaining a list (a description, photos, and maps) of every parcel of real property––including, but not limited to, land, dwellings, barns, garages, shops, power installations, and other improvements––within the confines of the Town of Hawley. It is the job of the Assessors to place a valuation (that statistically reflects fair market value) on all real estate and personal property items within the Town.
Assessment Forms
- Taxable Personal Property Form of List (for residents and business owners)
- Second Residence Form of List (for non-residents)
- Real and Personal Property Abatement Application
- Motor Vehicle Excise Abatement Application
- Motor Vehicle Excise Exemption Application for Manufacturers/Farmers
- Taxpayer Forms and Guides – DLS Website
Information for Veterans, Seniors, Disabilities, Surviving Spouses on Personal Exemptions
- Taxpayer’s Guide to Local Property Tax Exemptions for Qualifying Seniors
- Taxpayer’s Guide to Local Property Exemption for Seniors: Surviving Spouse
- Taxpayer’s Guide to Local Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans
- Taxpayer’s Guide to Local Property Exemptions for the Blind
- Application for Personal Exemptions for Seniors (Form 96)
- Application for Tax Exemption for Veterans (Form 96-4)
- Application for Tax Exemption for Veteran – Blind (Form 96-5)
- Application for Tax Exemption for the Blind (Form 96-3)
The Valuation Mandate
According to Massachusetts Law, all properties within a Town must be verified by the Assessors every ten years. The Hawley Assessors strive to complete this every five years instead; they verify (by visit or questionnaire) roughly 20 percent of all Hawley properties every year. In addition, the Assessors visit and/or review every property where new construction, renovations, upgrades, or downgrades may have taken place. In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) requires a “revaluation” to be done every five years, which involves additional statistical analyses to confirm fair and equitable valuations throughout town.
Valuation Process
The process of valuation is by no means an arbitrary one. The Assessors view the properties and in some cases make or reconfirm measurements. These data are then uploaded into a structured computer program with established cost tables, which in turn calculates the valuations. Property owners are able to view the details of their assessments (available through the Public Access Database) and are encouraged to ask questions.
Abatements and Exemptions
In addition to the general valuation process, the Board of Assessors also reviews, investigates, and rules on tax abatement requests from those qualifying Hawley property owners who submit them. The Board also processes exemptions for the elderly (aged 70 and up), disabled veterans, widows/widowers, and persons who are blind, on the same basis.
Current Board Members
All members of the Board of Assessors are elected for a term of three years. Generally, one election (or reelection) is held every year. The current Assessors for the Town of Hawley are Ed Brady (chair), Wayne Lemoine, and Jeff Carantit.
The Assessors are assisted by Virginia Gabert.
Meetings
Monthly meetings of the Board of Assessors are held at 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Town Office. All Hawley residents and/or property owners may attend.
Plans and Priorities
The main priority of the Board is to complete the assessment process for each year, and assess all properties in a fair and equitable manner. Hawley will be going through a Revaluation year in FY25, so additional information requests will be mailed out starting in the autumn. After the statistical analyses are performed and DOR preliminary approval has been received, “Impact Notices” will be mailed indicating any change in value. The Assessors appreciate cooperation through this procedure, in order to ensure the establishment of fair and equitable values.
If you have questions about the assessment process or about scheduling a visit, call the Town Office at (413) 339-5518 or send an email here.
