Auditors reviewed 125 real property tax exemptions totaling $52.1 million and identified issues with 21 exemptions. Sixteen exemptions totaling $738,693 in town-exempted assessed value lacked one or more pieces of supporting documentation to determine eligibility or verify the accuracy of the exemption calculation. Auditors also found five exemptions were incorrectly calculated.
Audit Objective
Determine whether the Assessor properly administered select real property tax exemptions.
Key Findings
We reviewed properties with 125 agricultural, non-profit and not-for-profit, senior citizen, volunteer firefighter, veteran and other exemptions. The Assessor:- Granted exemptions without required applications, renewal forms or other supporting documentation.
- Incorrectly calculated granted exemptions.
- Did not report the transfer of all property with exemptions to the County as required.
Key Recommendations
The Assessor should:- Ensure granted exemptions are authorized, supported, accurately calculated and continue to meet eligibility requirements.
- Report the transfer of property with exemptions to the County to ensure the new owner is billed for the prorated share of taxes.
The full audit can be viewed HERE.
