The new Chatham assessments are out!

These will be used for the next three years. They will be the measure of your property taxes when the debt service for Big Sewer begins to hit along with the debt service for the luxurious PD/Annex.

And, of course, your tax payment will go to pay for this fiscal year's spending, which soared far above that of fiscal 2009.

In case you forgot, this fiscal year's spending includes pay raises for all public sector employees, averaging around 6%, some as high as 7% and 8%. Plus increases in pensions and reimbursement for health insurance costs. You'd never know we're experiencing the worst recession since the 1930s.

Check you new assessment and compare it to your present assessment to see if it is higher, lower or the same. Having checked a sampling, some go up, some go down compared to prior years.

You have a week (through November 11th) to go to Town Hall to complain if you don't like what you see.

Later on, those thinking of abatements should know that there is a short window once the tax bills are sent out, so it's important to move promptly. You can download the Abatement Application form by clicking here. Your Abatement Application must be filed by the date your first (of two) tax payment is due. The due date will be on your property tax bill that will be in the mail in a few days in all likelihood.

Click on this link to find your new assessment number.