READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone,

I spoke to the State Appellate Tax Board yesterday, and with the City Solicitor, Mayor's Office, Assessor's Office and Thoreson. I finally was able to clarify the process. The necessary paperwork is at the Assessor's Office (basement of City Hall) and at DPW (third floor of City Hall) and, as of yesterday afternoon, it is also online on the city's website, under events on the main page. I was told the quickest path is to file Form 128 directly with DPW -- otherwise the Assessor's Office needs to bring it to them. Thoreson told me DPW can provide a date-stamped copy of the form to you. Later down the road, if you appeal to the State Appellate Tax Board, they might want proof that you filed by the Feb. 1 deadline.

Almost all water and sewer bills have now been converted into property tax bill liens, so State Tax Form 128 should be the appropriate path for everyone, unless you are on a payment plan. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or run into any problems along the way.

Below is a detailed list of how to file the paperwork, which ran in the paper today:

1. Fill out State Tax Form 128 in person at the Department of Public Works on third floor of Brockton City Hall. Or download Form 128 from the following state website: mass.gov/Ador/docs/dls/publ/forms/abatement.PDF – or from the city website at www.brockton.ma.us/News/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsId=1628.  The completed forms must be received in person, or postmarked by Feb. 1, at the Department of Public Works, City of Brockton, 45 School St., Brockton, MA 02301. 

2. You can request a date-stamped copy of the form from the Department of Public Works  for your records.
     

3. The city has three months  to respond to the appeal. If you are unsatisfied with the city’s response, you have three months from the  date of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Tax Board. To reach the state tax board, call 617-727-3100 and ask to speak with a clerk.

Best,

Amy

Amy Littlefield

Reporter

The Enterprise

Brockton, Mass.

508-427-4013

PERMISSION WAS GRANTED FROM THE ENTERPRISE TO RUN THIS. AMY HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE WATER CRISIS IN BROCKTON SINCE THE BEGINING. PEOPLE PLEASE FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AND HAND IT IN BY 1/31/11. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I THINK 2/1/11 MIGHT BE TOO LATE. GO TO THORESON, THE MAYOR, THE TAX COLLECTOR AND MAKE COPIES FOR YOURSELF. CONTEST THE WATER/SEWEGE PROTION IF YOU HAVE A LIEN ON FORM 128. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LIEN CONTEST THE WATER/SEWEGE PORTION ON THE SHORT FORM. IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO DONT WAIT EMAIL ME AT BROCKTONBEAT@HOTMAIL.COM  THIS MUST BE DONE OR YOU COULD LOOSE YOUR HOUSE. THANK YOU AMY AND THE ENTERPRISE FOR HELPING THE PEOPLE OF BROCKTON