Real estate and personal property values are currently being updated in all Island towns in order that each town’s assessments can be certified by the Department of Revenue later this year for fiscal year 2012.

Revaluation of all business personal property is a part of the recertification of all property values. Some of the towns have hired Real Estate Research Consultants, Inc. (RRC) to carry out the business personal property revaluation project; others will complete this phase in house. From now through early June, RRC or assessors personnel will visit businesses to list taxable personal property items such as inventory, furniture and fixtures, and machinery and equipment used in the conduct of business. Most inspections are brief and will take only about 10 minutes or less. All town employees as well as employees of RRC will carry identification. The boards of assessors appreciate the cooperation of all taxpayers in this revaluation effort.

The Island County Assessors Association has a booklet available in each town’s assessors office that is designed to give Dukes County taxpayers a brief overview of the duties and responsibilities of the boards of assessors as well as general information about property revaluation. The Revaluation & Recertification & Taxes section explains what revaluation is, how it is done, and the way tax bills are affected when a revaluation is completed. For details, call your assessors office at the following numbers: Aquinnah 508-645-2306, Edgartown 508-627-6140, Tisbury 508-696-4206, Oak Bluffs 508-693-3554, Chilmark 508-645-2102, and West Tisbury 508-693-0101.