Employees of Vision Appraisal, the contractor assisting the Town of Vernon with state-mandated revaluation, have begun collecting data and inspecting properties in town.

The inspection work will continue through September.

State law requires municipalities to complete a property revaluation every five years in order to keep property assessments current and to ensure property taxes are equitable. To assist with this work, the town has contracted with Vision Government Solutions to conduct field review and data collection, including real estate inspections.

Residents may notice Vision staff in neighborhoods throughout Vernon. All Vision employees will carry visible identification badges, wear safety vests, and use clearly marked vehicles. Their identification and vehicle information are also on file with the Vernon Police Department.

“The contractors are working to verify that information we have on file for each property is accurate,” Vernon Assessor Todd Helems said. “In addition to conducting on-site inspections and measuring structures, Vision Appraisal has mailed questionnaires about their property to residents. Our goal is to be accurate and ensure equitable treatment of all taxpayers.”

When visiting a property, Vision Appraisal staff will first knock on the door. If they get no response, they will, as permitted by state law, perform a visual inspection of accessible portions of the property and may take measurements to verify information on file is accurate. They may also request to check inside a home to verify number of bedrooms and other information. They will only enter a home with the resident’s permission.

State law permits a municipal assessor, staff or designated persons, such as a contractor, to “fully inspect any parcel of improved real property in order to ascertain or verify the accuracy of data listed on the assessor’s property record for such parcel.”

Anyone with a question about the process can call the assessor’s office at 860-870-3625.