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Postponing the re-evaluation for a year is a stop gap measure that can only be corrected with annual valuation updates. Re-evaluation has a toxic connotation because it pits neighbors against neighbors and strangles taxpayers that are fortunate/unfortunate to be subject to a growing economy.

Property values change all the time – neighborhood by neighborhood, so when the change is not equal, people pay more and others less – for three years, until the next reassessment. No one wants to be on the ‘more’ side and outraged that there might be people on the ‘less’ side. Taxpayers are blinded by the erroneous charges because their property value had not changed, or worse, declined. They pay more and think that ‘it is what it is.’ But it does not have to be. RI General Law requires that tax is to be equally apportioned but that only happens in the year of the revaluation. Every other year the taxpayers are unequally taxed

Jurisdictions around the country update property values annually doing what we should be doing …to apportion tax equally.

Back in the day, reevaluations were required once each ten years. Those updates caused havoc in many areas.

The General Assembly responded with a third party outside professional study that recommended the current plan -- 9-year complete reevaluation with three-year valuation updates. That happened nearly 50 years ago.

Computers were mainframes. Revaluations were all contracted out and expensive because virtually none of the assessors could conduct the comprehensive program while maintaining the demand of the office, nor had the technical ability. It was a very different time.

Times have changed. Our phones and tablets are now as powerful as the mainframes of old. The assessors today are reevaluation experts having worked for one or more contractors. Handling updates inhouse using reasonably available software is within the expertise of most.

Updating values each year will recognize the rise or fall of values and allow the municipality to equally apportion tax according to RI law and the satisfaction of every taxpayer. Only then will everyone only pay their fair share but equal share.