Wednesday, January 26, 2011

READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone,

I spoke to the State Appellate Tax Board yesterday, and with the City Solicitor, Mayor's Office, Assessor's Office and Thoreson. I finally was able to clarify the process. The necessary paperwork is at the Assessor's Office (basement of City Hall) and at DPW (third floor of City Hall) and, as of yesterday afternoon, it is also online on the city's website, under events on the main page. I was told the quickest path is to file Form 128 directly with DPW -- otherwise the Assessor's Office needs to bring it to them. Thoreson told me DPW can provide a date-stamped copy of the form to you. Later down the road, if you appeal to the State Appellate Tax Board, they might want proof that you filed by the Feb. 1 deadline.


Almost all water and sewer bills have now been converted into property tax bill liens, so State Tax Form 128 should be the appropriate path for everyone, unless you are on a payment plan. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or run into any problems along the way.


Below is a detailed list of how to file the paperwork, which ran in the paper today:


1. Fill out State Tax Form 128 in person at the Department of Public Works on third floor of Brockton City Hall. Or download Form 128 from the following state website: mass.gov/Ador/docs/dls/publ/forms/abatement.PDF – or from the city website at www.brockton.ma.us/News/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsId=1628. The completed forms must be received in person, or postmarked by Feb. 1, at the Department of Public Works, City of Brockton, 45 School St., Brockton, MA 02301.


2. You can request a date-stamped copy of the form from the Department of Public Works for your records.


3. The city has three months to respond to the appeal. If you are unsatisfied with the city’s response, you have three months from the date of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Tax Board. To reach the state tax board, call 617-727-3100 and ask to speak with a clerk.




Best,
Amy


Amy Littlefield
Reporter
The Enterprise
Brockton, Mass.
508-427-4013

PERMISSION WAS GRANTED BY THE ENTEPRISE TO RUN THIS ARTICLE. AMY LITTLFIELD HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS STORY FROM THE BEGININING. PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORMS PROPERLY AND GET THEM IN BY 1/31/11. YOU HAVE UNTIL 2/1/11 BUT ITS TO CLOSE. MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING AND COVER YOURSELVES. I WISH
THE BEST TO EVERYONE AND PLEASE DO THE WORK BECASUE THE CITY WILL NOT DO THE WORK FOR YOU. IF YOU NEED COPIES OF THE FORMS YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THEM BELOW OR FROM THE CITY WEBSITE. THANK YOU AMY AND THE ENTERPRISE.