PARIS — Selectmen approved a contract with an independent assessor Monday night for a townwide property revaluation. 

The last valuation was in 2007, but town officials said there were significant discrepancies with results that overvalued land and undervalued buildings. 

Selectmen voted to accept the $179,900 bid from Pittsfield-based RJD Appraisal. Town Manager Amy Bernard said she worked closely with RJD owner Robert Duplisea when she was town manager in Wayne.

RJD will conduct a comprehensive valuation of real estate and determine new values, Bernard said. She expects the work will take two years and should be finished by the time selectmen commit taxes in 2015.

Bernard said she expects the work will begin in the next month, after a contract is finalized. 

A reserve account created in 2009 to fund the project has a $200,000 balance, which will allow Paris to hire RJD without using additional taxpayer money, Bernard said. 

Remaining funds will be used to hire the town’s assessor, Jerry Samson, for an additional 10 hours per week to preform project management for the revaluation, including scheduling appointments with residents and answering questions from the independent appraiser.

Bringing Samson on for additional hours is expected to cost around $14,000, including required FICA and Medicare costs, Bernard said.

The other bid the town received was $230,000 from John O’Donnell and Associates of New Gloucester. 

pmcguire@sunjournal.com

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