Bangor is updating the values of the city’s 11,063 properties for the first time in 37 years, which could result in new tax bills for most residents.
Bangor’s Citywide Revaluation Project is expected to take two years, ending in July 2026. Residents’ new property values will take effect in April 2026 and be reflected in their 2026 tax bills.
The process to revalue each property, which hasn’t been done since 1987, will involve inspections of every site in Bangor, including vacant land, single- and multi-family homes, industrial spaces and commercial properties.
The value of a person’s home does not impact the city’s tax rate, but will determine how much an individual pays. Bangor’s current property tax rate, which is determined through municipal, county and school budgets, is $19.15 per $1,000 of valuation.
This means a home worth $200,000 will receive a $3,830 tax bill while a $400,000 home will pay $7,660 in taxes.
Here’s what Bangor residents need to know.
Why is Bangor doing a revaluation?
The goal of revaluing properties in a city is to ensure residents are being taxed fairly for what they own and the city’s tax burden is divided equitably, according to Rob Tozier, vice president of KRT Appraisal, a Massachusetts-based real estate appraiser the city contracted with.
“To me, a revaluation is like an inventory of what we have, so if we have 300 three-bedroom one-bathroom houses, they’re all taxed about the same,” Councilor Gretchen Schaefer said. “We’re not changing our taxes, we’re making sure what’s being taxed exists and what exists is being taxed.”
Will residents’ tax bills change?
Typically, one-third of residents will see their tax bill remain about the same, one-third will have their taxes decrease and the remaining one-third will have to pay more in taxes, Tozier said.
When will the revaluation process begin?
The revaluation process will begin in June, and the first phase will be inspections of every property to check the information on a property’s record is accurate to what’s there currently.
How will I know when my home is being inspected?
Inspectors will carry IDs and travel in marked vehicles. Property owners will also receive a postcard notifying them of an upcoming inspection visit.
What does the inspection include?
When inspectors walk through a home, they’ll be counting bedrooms and bathrooms and noting the overall condition of the home. Inspectors will make a note of any deferred maintenance or renovations and what materials were used in those updates, Tozier said. The inspection process will take between five and 15 minutes.
What happens after the inspections?
KRT Appraisal will then review and analyze property sales that have taken place in Bangor between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026, to determine fair market value. The review is necessary because the homes in Bangor have sold for well over the assessed value since the last revaluation in 1987.
KRT Appraisal will send notices to residents outlining the old and new value of their home, then hold informal hearings over the phone with anyone who has questions or concerns about their updated home values.
How can I learn more information?
City staff will hold three informational meetings on the upcoming revaluation to give residents details on the process and answer any questions.
The first meeting will take place on May 30 at 6 p.m. at Downeast School. The second will take place at William S. Cohen School at 6 p.m. on June 11. A third meeting will be scheduled later.
