A town-wide property tax revaluation is underway in Woolwich and will take until the fall of 2025 to complete, according to Dirigo Assessing Group, the Sidney-based company hired to carry out the work.

“The state recommends a revaluation be carried out about every 10 years. For us it has been more than 15 years,” said David King Sr., selectboard chairman. He told Wiscasset Newspaper the process is just getting started. “After it’s completed what usually happens is about a third of the property owners see their taxes increase, a third see their taxes stay about the same, and a third see their taxes drop.” Along with evening out the tax burden, the revaluation will ensure the town continues receiving its share of state aid, including homestead reimbursement and reimbursements for veterans and properties in tree growth, added King.

King said Woolwich with a town meeting form of government has an advantage over communities run by a city council. “The people who attend town meeting are the governing body, and are the ones who decide how much the town spends, and therefore how much is needed in property taxes,” he commented.

The assessment will be done in five phases, beginning this month, according to a press release from Dirigo Assessing Group. Field representatives will visit commercial and residential properties to verify the size, age, quality of construction, and numerous other characteristics both inside and out of homes and buildings. They may also ask the property owner a few questions. Assessments will be adjusted to reflect market value as of April 1, 2025. “This creates equity and ensures a fair distribution of the tax burden across all property owners,” states the press release.

Dirigo Assessing Group field representatives have picture IDs to identify themselves and their vehicles are registered at the Woolwich town office. “They will explain that they are there for an inspection. If no one is home, they will assume it is OK to measure the outside of a building and proceed to do so,” according to the press release.

Other phases of the revaluation include sales review/validation, market analysis/valuation and field review. Dirigo Assessing Group will be analyzing property sales that occurred between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2025, to determine which market factors influenced property values. Information will be obtained from the Maine Multiple Listing Service, property managers, developers and local real estate agents.

“Once all the data is collected and reviewed for accuracy, the appraiser will determine land values and delineate neighborhoods, which rate the desirability of locations throughout the town as determined by actual market activity,” according to Dirigo Assessing Group.

When the field review is finished and the new values are approved by the assessor’s office, a notice stating the proposed value will be mailed to each property owner. “The goal is for this phase to be completed in late July of 2025. At that time anyone with questions concerning the revaluation process or the value established for their property will have an opportunity to meet with a member of Dirigo Assessing Group’s staff,” according to the press release.

Dirigo Assessing Group was the only company submitting a bid to carry out Woolwich’s reassessment, which will cost $282,000.