News - Monday, November 6, 2000

Error appears on Portsmouth property tax bill

By TUCKER CORDANI

Portsmouth Bureau Chief

PORTSMOUTH B The good news is that city taxes are not going up this year.

The bad news: there is a presentation "glitch" on the property tax ownersB bills that went out this week.

The city of Portsmouth assessorBs office accidentally reversed the listing of the land and building assessed valuations, Assessor William Boatwright said.

The numbers are correct; theyBre just in the wrong place, he said.

"The total valuation is correct," he said. "All exemptions and credits were correctly applied and the total net tax due amount is accurate."

The bill remains due on or before Dec. 1.

"We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused," Boatwright said Friday in a statement to the cityBs taxpayers.

"The presentation error will be corrected for the second half tax bill that taxpayers will receive in the spring," he said.

The city is sending out postcards to every taxpayer, notifying them of the presentation error.

Additional questions about the bills may be directed to Boatwright at the city tax assessorBs office at 431-2006 extension 249.

http://207.180.26.213/news2000/nov_00/06/po1106b.htm

-- Doris (reaper@pacifier.com), November 07, 2000