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Date: 1/31/2023
PALMER – Lake Thompson residents are looking for answers after some have experienced an inflated tax assessment of nearly double last year.
Palmer resident and Vice President of the Lake Thompson Civic Association (LTCA) Ed Santini is one of several who has seen an increase in his taxes. He explained that he and a group of concerned neighbors have contacted the town’s Assessor’s Office along with sending out letters to Town Manager Ryan McNutt, state Rep. Todd Smola, state Sen. Jake Oliveira and more.
Santini said Oliveira replied to those concerns, saying this matter is “out of [his] court,” as it is more of a local jurisdiction.
“It’s definitely a grassroots thing,” Santini added.
Last year, two houses on Lake Thompson were sold to people from out of town during the “hyper real estate market,” Santini said. He noted that one house was sold for over $500,000 and the other, $400,000. Before those homes were purchased, Santini said the property assessment for each lot appraised around the lake was around $70,000. When the two homes were added, he said the average value assessed brought them close to $170,000 – more than double of what it was.
Principal Assessor Keri-Ann Wenzel added that some of the houses around the lake sold for more than $200,000 over the asking price, forcing the surrounding home values to increase. Wenzel did not provide any additional comments on this matter.
“This comes out to almost $400,000 a year,” said Santini. “The taxes went up 70 percent.”
According to Santini, other lakeside homes went up even more, whereas the lots in association across the lake were hardly impacted.
Across Palmer, Santini shared taxes increased by about 10 to 20 percent in the past year.
“We got hit that hard,” he said.
Palmer resident and LTCA member Bruce Allen also lives on Lake Thompson. Since moving to town a year and a half ago, Allen said his assessment and taxes have both “doubled completely.”
“There just seems to be no consistency with regards to the methodology by which the assessor has given out these rates,” added Allen.
Santini said, “Mainly 60 houses around the lake are suffering from this.” With the other lots on the lake, Santini said he has seen a lot of inconsistencies with the building value. “Three lots on the lake didn’t get upgraded [or assessed],” he shared. He was able to obtain this information from the Assessor’s Office which is also posted online.
On Forest Lake in Palmer, Santini said there are a few houses on the water but because no houses were sold, residents did not see a dramatic increase on their taxes.
Right now, Santini said the only thing they can do is fill out the tax abatement forms and call attention to this problem.
“We’re not a big lake – we’re a private lake,” he said. Santini noted that the demographics on Lake Thompson are primarily retired individuals.
“I’m retired,” he shared. “After a long, hard road, we’re able to live in a wonderful place.”
He went on to say that the assessors are “dragging their feet with political stuff.” Santini explained that it takes a long time to make a determination but as of press time, have not heard back from the town’s Assessors Office.
“This is what happens when areas get gentrified,” Santini said. “People are getting forced out because they can’t afford to live here.”
Santini informed Reminder Publishing that about a dozen individuals who live on the lake hosted a meeting to brainstorm options on what to do. For the most part, Santini said residents’ hands are tied.