Mayor defends mobile home revals, tax hikes, says they were mandated by state law

Rochester Maor Paul Callaghan (Courtesy image)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan today acknowledged that some mobile homes in the city have seem their fair market values "doubled, and sometimes almost tripled" in the city's recent revaluation, leading to some owners seeing a doubling in their property tax burden.
In a statement from the city released today he blamed the added tax burden on revaluations that aligned property assessments with the current real estate market.
The statement also referenced New Hampshire's State Constitution (Part 2, Article 6), which mandates revaluations at least every five years, which ensures that all properties are assessed at fair market value as of April 1, 2024,"
The 2024 tax rate in Rochester has been set at $14.85 per $1,000 of property value, representing a significant reduction of 42.3 percent from the 2023 rate of $25.74, however the increase in property value assessment far outstripped that reduction, mobile home owners say.
Meanwhile, an informal survey by the The Rochester Voice found that while most single family homes owners in Rochester saw a slight increase in their tax burden, it was mobile home owners that took the brunt of the burden following the revaluation.
Callaghan also noted that exemptions and tax relief are available to those who qualify, stating "We saw [the revaluation] coming and increased the income and exemption levels for the elderly and disabled," adding that the current City Council has implemented further increases since then.
"In just over two years, there have been $20 million in additional exemptions for property tax relief," Callaghan added. "Altogether, it's $58 million in value that is exempted based on the work (the Council) has done in the past three years."
To better assist residents, the Assessor's Office has updated online resources to include:
• Information on exemptions and credits for elderly, disabled, and Veterans.
• A list of sales used in the revaluation process.
• A link to GIS online, for property owners to view property record cards.
Property owners who believe their 2024 assessments are overstated have the option to file for an abatement. Applications are being accepted until March 1. For more information on the abatement process, visit www.rochesternh.gov/assessing/pages/abatements-and-appeals.