Taxation

2009

January 8, 2009

West Tisbury Tax Abatements Soar as Applications Increase

Jim Hickey
Taxation

The town of West Tisbury, a breeding ground for property tax rancor in recent years, had a record high $289,000 in tax abatements in 2008 based on approximately $68 million in total adjusted property values.

While town officials say the high number of abatements can be tracked directly to the current triennial real estate revaluation and a spike in waterfront property values, some residents insist that they signal a continued level of discontent with the current assessment system and the company hired to help conduct the revaluations.

2008

February 14, 2008

Vision Appraisal Defends Its Methods on Tax Assessments

Jack Shea
Property assessments
Tax rates
Taxation
Property taxes

A growing group of West Tisbury taxpayers, furious at their property tax bills and concerned about how the taxes are computed, received little solace during a stormy two-hour informational meeting with Vision Appraisal Technology on Tuesday evening at the Howes House.

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January 17, 2008

Pondfront Owners Shocked at Tax Bills

Jack Shea
Taxation
Property assessments
Property taxes
Tax rates

A dozen stunned West Tisbury property owners crowded the normally quiet town assessors meeting this week to question their assessments and tax bills, which have more than doubled this year.

January 3, 2008

Conservation Tax Law Has Few Takers on the Vineyard

Mike Seccombe
Taxation

About 130 acres of land on the Vineyard was permanently protected from development under new conservation restrictions in 2007, according to state government figures.

The relatively disappointing result was in spite of generous tax incentives — which expired at year’s end — and in sharp contrast to figures for the state as a whole.

Statewide, 266 new conservation restrictions, covering a total area of 11,200 acres were signed off by the secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles.

2005

August 25, 2005

Property Tax Case Reveals IRS Probe

Ian Fein
Taxation

Property Tax Case Reveals IRS Probe

Expert Appraiser for Town Discloses Internal Revenue Service
Investigation of Herring Creek Farm Transaction

By IAN FEIN

BOSTON - The expert appraiser hired by West Tisbury assessors
revealed during cross-examination this week that the federal Internal
Revenue Service is investigating the 2001 Herring Creek Farm real estate
transaction in Edgartown and an ensuing charitable tax deduction that
was based largely on his appraisal of the property.

August 22, 2005

Town Appraiser Puts High Price on Land

Ian Fein
Property assessments
Property taxes
Taxation

Town Appraiser Puts High Price on Land

West Tisbury Expert Takes the Stand in Protracted Graham Tax
Hearing; Values Property at $64.5 Million

By IAN FEIN

An expert real estate appraiser hired by West Tisbury assessors last
year estimated the total value of 235 acres owned by town resident
William W. Graham at $64.5 million, significantly higher than the
town's original assessments.

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