Southwick Assessors Eye Full Parcel Reinspection, Personal Property Audit for FY27

Other Committee · Meeting of February 25, 2026

Southwick Board of Assessors advances plans for a full town-wide property inspection and personal property audit targeting FY27. Principal Assessor Randall Austin told the board Wednesday that he has submitted two capital planning budget requests: one for a residential parcel data collection effort covering the town's roughly 3,800 single-family properties, and one for a personal property audit he estimates will cost approximately $25,000 and generate roughly $100,000 in new growth from property incorrectly classified as exempt. Austin said the residential inspection would unfold over two years given the scale.

Two residents spoke during public comment, with Vivier of 352 North Loomis Street presenting a comparison of Cape-style homes she said showed inconsistent grading, and Greg Diley of Penn Salem Road reiterating prior analysis showing 42 properties billed more than $1,000 too much before the reassessment. The board, sitting without Chair John Kane, approved seven routine warrants and committed on a 2-0 vote before entering executive session on abatements.

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Source: the Other Committee meeting of February 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.