Mount Desert Assessment Review Board holds first meeting since 2011

The Town of Mount Desert's Board of Assessment Review met on October 6, 2026, its first meeting since 2011, to organize and prepare for an upcoming property tax appeal hearing. Members elected officers, reviewed hearing procedures and standards of proof, and scheduled the appeal hearing for October 27. The board also discussed whether to hold a site visit of the property at issue.

Key points

• Alan Kimberly was elected chair by a 5-0 vote, and Jerry Miller was elected vice chair.
• Gail Mosher was nominated and confirmed as secretary, with Heidi taking minutes.
• Tax Assessor Kyle Avila and Jerry Miller walked the board through the eight-page hearing procedure document, including the 60-day deadline to hear appeals and the 10-day deadline to issue a written decision.
• The board reviewed the "manifestly wrong" standard of proof, under which the assessor's valuation is presumed valid and the taxpayer bears the burden of showing overvaluation, unjust discrimination, or illegality.
• The board scheduled the appeal hearing for October 27 at 6 p.m., with a possible site visit at 5 p.m. the same day, pending review of materials.
• Members discussed ex parte communication rules, conflict of interest disclosures, and the town's assessment ratio of 86 percent of market value with a 10 percent margin of error.

Next steps

• Board members will review the appeal materials and notify the chair by around October 13 if they want a site visit.
• The chair will post public notice of the October 27 hearing in the newspaper and on the town website, and send copies to board members.
• The assessor will submit his memo and supporting materials to the board ahead of the hearing.

Read the full transcript