Erosion Lowers Property Taxes for Six Plumb Island Homeowners

The Newburyport Daily News recently reported that six Plumb Island beachfront homeowners that owned land most affected by erosion will be granted tax breaks. The land owners had filed appeals on their 2010 property taxes stating that erosion had decreased the square footage of the land they were being taxed on; however, it was the “stigma” of bad press that finally granted them the break.

Once the town decided that the property assessments had to be reconsidered due to the special circumstances, the appellate tax board awarded the property owners with a 15 percent abatement, “a sufficient adjustment to compensate for the existence of a ‘stigma.’” The report stated that the bad press likely had a negative effect on the value and marketability of the properties in question.

The six property owners have already received their 2010 abatement checks, ranging from $1,200 to $1,500, and some will receive the 15 percent abatement for the 2011 fiscal year as well. "We have yet to determine how we will implement this ruling into our ongoing valuations of property," said Carrie Keville, the town's administrative assessor. "The assessors are working on what actions will be taken, and the results will be reflected in the fiscal year third quarter bills, which are sent out at the end of December."

Read the entire Newburyport Daily News article.