How your assessing function is structured depends on your town’s charter and form of government—not on which service model you choose. Some towns have a single assessor with full decision authority. Others operate under an assessor’s agent model where the select board retains formal assessing authority.

Municipal Consulting Group of Maine provides contract assessing support for both structures. The level of professional coverage is the same. What changes is how decisions get finalized.

If your town has a single assessor structure:
We serve as your town’s assessor with full authority to make day-to-day assessing decisions, sign abatements, and handle valuation changes. Your staff and residents get clear answers without waiting for board meetings.

If your town operates under an assessor’s agent model:
We handle the research, documentation, field work, and resident conversations, then prepare recommendations for your select board to review and approve. By law, your board retains the assessing authority—we provide the technical expertise and do the work.

Either way, you get the same professional support. The difference is determined by your charter, not by what we offer.

Small towns operate with limited staff, tight schedules, and a steady flow of questions from residents. Our approach fits that reality—whether we’re serving as your assessor or supporting your existing assessor in a backup role.

Predictable schedule
We establish regular days each month when we’re available—either onsite or in a hybrid format. This creates stability for your staff, board, and residents.

Responsive between visits
We answer emails and calls throughout the month so questions don’t pile up waiting for the next scheduled visit.

Support for existing assessors
Some towns have an assessor in place but need additional capacity for day-to-day operations. We can step into a support role—handling overflow work, providing backup during busy periods, or filling gaps where the department needs help.

Property reviews when needed
When changes occur or challenges come in, we handle the field visits and documentation. Your staff doesn’t have to guess or get caught in the middle.

Sales and market monitoring
We track local sales activity and market trends to keep your assessing practices aligned with current conditions.

Public-facing communication
When residents have concerns about valuations or abatements, we provide clear, respectful explanations. Your office doesn’t absorb that pressure alone.

Time commitment
Most towns find that 1 to 3 days per month provides the right level of coverage. During those days, we’re onsite handling work that requires physical presence. Outside of those days, we remain available by phone and email for questions and guidance.

The exact schedule depends on your town’s size, property activity, and seasonal workload.

Investment
Our fees are structured so towns can plan with confidence. Most contract assessing arrangements fall in the $800 to $1,200 per day range, though pricing varies based on several factors:

• Volume of work and property complexity
• Travel requirements and geographic logistics
• Communication and public-facing support needs

For towns that need more flexible or limited support, we also offer hourly rates. Just ask and we can share our current rate sheet.

We walk through these factors with you before moving forward so you understand what drives the cost and what your town will receive.

Contract assessing exists to remove the strain that many small towns feel around assessing work. Here are the common challenges we help address:

Staff don’t have the training or capacity
Many clerks and administrators inherit assessing responsibilities they weren’t hired or trained to handle. We take that work off their plate.

Turnover creates gaps
When someone leaves, institutional knowledge goes with them. We provide continuity and a consistent process regardless of who’s in the office.

Residents expect timely answers
Our team responds promptly to questions and concerns, reducing complaints that would otherwise land on your staff.

Technical work feels complicated
Abatements, exemptions, commitments—we guide you through each step and handle the details with clarity.

Annual cycles cause stress
With structured workflows and predictable schedules, we keep your assessing work ahead of deadlines so nothing becomes a crisis.

Some towns discover that assessing challenges are part of a larger strain on the office. When staffing turnover, training gaps, or process issues begin stacking up, contract assessing helps but may not be the complete solution.

If your town is also dealing with:

• Turnover in key administrative or finance roles
• Backlogs that no one has time to manage
• Confusion around budgets, warrants, or state requirements
• New board members who need guidance
• Major projects like comp plans or charter reviews

Municipal Consulting Group of Maine can provide broader municipal consulting support to stabilize operations and bring clarity back to your workflow. Many towns use contract assessing as their foundation and add consulting support during transitions or busy periods.

For more information, visit our Municipal Consulting page.