Homeowners who are appealing their recent property values because of the town's altered approach to assessments received some good news last week. 

The Barrington Board of Assessment Review, following the advice of the town solicitor, abandoned the assessments issued in 2018, and instead adjusted residents' property assessments back to their Dec. 2017 values. 

For some homeowners, that meant a reduction of more than $100,000. And with the reduced assessments comes smaller tax bills. 

For months, a group of residents have been challenging the decision by Barrington Tax Assessor Michael Minardi to alter the assessment approach. Normally, there is a town-wide revaluation every three years, which uses a number of factors when determining a property's value.

But at the end of 2018, Mr. Minardi, relying on a recent Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling, altered the approach, changing the assessments for homes sold in 2018 to match their sales prices. The change impacted more than 400 residents, and the vast majority saw increased property assessments and higher tax bills.

Some of those residents pleaded with town officials to address the situation. The town council suggested disgruntled taxpayers file an appeal with the assessor's office. Dozens followed the advice and many, after receiving Mr. Minardi's decision, filed a subsequent appeal with the Barrington Board of Assessment Review. 

The BAR met on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and shared an official statement from the solicitor. 

The statement explained the assessor's reasoning for abandoning the 2018 assessments — it stated that Rhode Island General Laws appear to be conflicted when it comes to determining property assessments, and if residents challenge the town's approach in court it is likely that the issue would be resolved in favor of the taxpayer.

"Consequently, it is my legal opinion," stated the solicitor, "that in the event that there was a challenge, it is more likely that the court would once again rule in favor of the appealing taxpayer in light of the conflict and ambiguity between the statutes and conclude that the assessor can only adjust assessments upwards pursuant to the 3-year revaluation cycle…"

The Barrington Board of Assessment Review would, however, factor in any potential change in an appealing property's value based on additional changes to that property.