The Marion Finance Committee remotely met on March 26 with the purpose of discussion the Board of Assessors’ budget, as well as offing recommendations for or against articles on the draft Town Meeting Warrant.
Assessor George T.J. Walker of the Board of Assessors spoke first, as he and the FinCom quickly discussed the board’s budget. Walker also went over its purpose and various oversights. He stated the town has about 4,100 assessed record cards, totaling around $2,924,000,000 with single-family homes making up the vast majority of valuations.
For the board’s budget, he noted three areas of focus for large increases. The first was due subscriptions to the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Offices, which has risen 25% from $100 to $125. Next was software, where Walker noted the CAMA (computer-assisted mass appraisal) system that has only four separate options used by the state, with its fees rising from $29,784 to $33,365. There was discussion on wages for those working in the Assessor’s office and the need to raise compensation. Should a hiring need to take place, Walker said, the current wage is far under what other towns are paying.
Finance Director Heather O’Brien clarified that the requested pay raise would require a increase of the position’s classification and contract, currently being a Class F. Walker stated the three assessor positions, collector, treasurer, and associate assessor, used to be in the same pay grade with the collector role now being outstanding. “It was in the same grade for 24 years,” said Walker, who said, “I have no idea,” when asked why this position was now in a different grade. He stated that the decision was made without his inclusion or knowledge.
Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman stated such a contract change was not relevant to the budgetary discussion and said he would be open to discussing it with the assessor at a different time.
FinCom then moved to offer recommendations on the remaining articles in the draft Town Meeting Warrant that they did not cover at prior meetings. The Select Board was to look at the warrant the following week.
The next meeting of the Marion Finance Committee was not scheduled at adjournment.
Marion Finance Committee
By Sam Bishop