Town of Bethel, Maine

Assessing

Town Assessor

Our assessor is Robert Duplisea Jr., and our Assessing Assistant is Emma Davis. On this section of the website, you can find information regarding property tax relief and how property values are assessed.

For Tax Maps and Tax Commitment Books, please visit our Real Estate page on the website. To view an interactive map of Bethel, visit our Code Enforcment page and click onAxisGIS.

The current mil rate (FY25) is $13.95 per thousand dollars in valuation. Taxes were committed on September 11, 2024. The due dates are October 28, 2024, and April 28, 2025. Interest begins the day following the due date.

All current assessing applications can be located under Documents on the website’s main page.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

For the most current property tax relief applications, we encourage you to visit Maine Revenue Service Forms Page and search for the Property Tax form you need so that you can ensure you have the most recent form. You may also access forms under Documents on the website’s main page. You may also contact our office and speak with the Assessor or Tax Collector at 207-824-2669.

Contact Information

Robert Duplisea Jr, RJD Appraisals - Assessor

  • Phone: (207) 824-2669
  • Email: assessor@bethelmaine.org
  • Location: 19 Main Street, Bethel, ME, 04217-1660
  • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1660, Bethel, ME, 04217-1660

Please call ahead for an appointment!

Emma Davis - Assessing Assistant

HOW PROPERTY VALUES ARE ASSESSED

Our tax year is July 1 to June 30. Taxes are due in two payments. Dates are on your tax bill. Interest begins to accrue the day after the due date. The interest rate is set by the State of Maine. When a payment is 8 to 12 months past due, a lien is filed in the Oxford County Registry of Deeds. Lien fees and certified mailing fees are then added to the amount due. It will foreclose 18 months after the filing of the tax lien certificate with the registry of deeds.

When looking at projects under construction the taxes will be based on only the amount completed by April 1 for the tax bill that year. If a structure is demolished (or a portion thereof) after April 1, the tax bill would still include the property as it was on April 1. If you build a house, addition, garage, shed, etc. after April 1, it will not be assessed until the following April 1.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  1. How are we notified of the sale of a property? As properties sell, we receive new deeds from the Oxford County Registry of Deeds. These are entered into our municipal software program TRIO. We do not update property sales information from any other source.
  2. All assessments are based on April 1 data.
  3. What does the town tax map tell us? Tax maps show the approximate boundary lines of the property. They do not take the place of a survey. The tax map information is used only for assessing purposes.
  4. What do my taxes provide for? Police, fire, ambulance, solid waste, elections, salaries, buildings, equipment, snow plowing, road maintenance, utilities, supplies, professional services, fuel, cemetery maintenance, general assistance - as well as many other items.
  5. How to read and understand my tax bill? Tax bills are public information. Bethel’s fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30. Taxes are committed in September and the first payment is due in October and the second payment is due in April. Interest begins to accrue the day after each due date. Map/lot identifies the property on the tax map. The account number locates the property in our municipal software program. Book/page indicates the recorded deed at the Oxford County Registry of Deeds.
  6. What is the basic formula used to determine property assessments? Land value is based on acreage. The first portion, called the improved site, is always the most valuable. Next is additional road frontage then the rear land, or extra acreage. Buildings are basically assessed by square foot; then extras added such as extra bathrooms, fireplaces, etc. To all this information a grade and factor is applied and condition which affects the depreciation.
  7. How do mil rate, assessment value, special assessments and other adjustments affect the final tax on a property? The total budget is divided by the total town assessment to determine a mil rate. The assessor has no control over the mil rate. The valuation is the assessor’s job and the budget is the Select Board’s job. “Special assessments” such as tree growth, open space, farmland are all added into the final valuation figures.
  8. What are exemptions? Residential owners must apply for a homestead exemption each time they move. You qualify for this by living in and owning your main residence for one year on April 1. This exemption takes $25,000 off the value of the residence. You may also receive a veteran’s exemption ($6,000) if you have reached the age of 62 and served in the military during one of the federally recognized war periods. You need to fill out a form and provide your DD214 and a birth certificate. Veterans who are not 62 but 100% disabled from military service may also receive this exemption and must apply with a letter showing a type 2 or type 3 disability. All these forms must be received by the assessor on or before April 1 to qualify for the upcoming tax year.
  9. How does the school district budgets influence property taxes? The town has no control over the school or county budgets. There is a statement on each tax bill that states the amount of your tax appropriated to town, school, and county.
  10. How does a taxpayer challenge or question a tax bill? Taxpayers should ask to see a copy of their property card. If a taxpayer has a question regarding their property, they should schedule an appointment to meet with the assessor. If the taxpayer desires a change, the assessor may want to perform an interior inspection to verify card information and information provided by the taxpayer. If the taxpayer wishes to challenge an assessment, they should first meet with the assessor. If they are not satisfied with the assessor’s decision, they can submit a written request for abatement.

Additional Resources & Information

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