For What It May Be Worth

The City of Norwalk, the sixth largest city in Connecticut, is near to completion of its 2023 real property revaluation.  This revaluation is a “full measure and list” revaluation – meaning that it incorporates the results of property inspections into the revaluation.  These full measure and list revaluations occur every ten years in the State of Connecticut, while “statistical” (market update) revaluations occur every five years. 

This revaluation is being performed for the City by Vision Government Solutions and Safeground Analytics.  The City’s residential properties will be revalued by Vision and the City’s commercial properties by Safeground, which was acquired in March of 2023 by the Tyler Technologies, Inc. 

To date, the City has completed almost all its data collection and property inspections.  However, “data mailers” or requests for data which were sent out by the revaluation companies are still being received by the City’s Assessor’s department.  As Vision and Safeground review and evaluate the results of these data mailers, they may be performing follow up inspections to confirm these data. 

Notices containing proposed assessments, which are based on 70% of market values as of October 1, 2023, will be sent out to all property owners the first week of December.  Those notices also will include an invitation for the property owner to schedule and attend an “informal hearing” with a representative of either Vision or Safeground, depending on the property type.  These informal hearings provide property owners the opportunity to ask questions about the revaluation process and the proposed values for their properties.  A property owner may also provide data which they feel is relevant to their real property valuation. 

If a property owner disagrees with the valuation conclusion reached by the either the Assessor or the revaluation representative, they may file a written appeal with the Norwalk Board of Assessment Appeals by February 20, 2024.  The Board of Assessment Appeals must hold a hearing on each appeal, except those for commercial, industrial, utility, or apartment properties assessed at over $1 million.  Any aggrieved taxpayer may then file an appeal of the Board’s decision within two months from the date of the “mailing of notice of such action.”

Finally, Norwalk has been searching for a new Assessor since March of 2023 when that position was vacated by William Ford.  Paul Gorman is currently serving as Interim Assessor as the City continues its search.

Please contact Brian McCann or any member of the Property Tax and Valuation practice should you have any questions.