Charlestown Hires Municipal Resources Inc. for 2026 Townwide Revaluation

Municipal Resources, Inc. (MRI) has been retained by the Town of Charlestown to perform a townwide property revaluation for the 2026 tax year, with a date-of-value set at April 1, 2026. MRI will analyze recent sales from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026 to inform new assessments, a step that could change individual property valuations ahead of the next tax rate setting.

The move comes as Charlestown seeks a requested 2026 operating budget of approximately $4.91 million, up from a 2025 operating baseline near $4.42 million. Town officials governed by a five-member Selectboard are proceeding in a community that counts about 4,800 residents across 38 square miles on the Connecticut River border with Vermont. The town is an SB-2 community, which means residents will consider budget matters at a February Deliberative Session with final voting at the March Election. Charlestown has also adopted the Municipal Budget Act and operates with a Budget Committee.

A revaluation is designed to align assessed values with current market conditions and the town’s declared date-of-value. Residents can expect analyses of sales activity in the two-year window specified by MRI. The firm’s engagement does not yet include a publicly released contract amount or a detailed public outreach schedule in the documents reviewed. Residents seeking specifics on timeline, notice procedures, or potential informal hearings should contact Alan Gould, President, Municipal Resources, Inc., at 603-279-0352 x320.

The revaluation arrives amid detailed municipal budget planning that shows specific departmental priorities and salary lines. The town budget excerpts list a Town Treasurer FY26 salary of $125,404, an Assistant Treasurer salary of $89,398, a Cash Accountant salary of $63,168, and a new HR/Benefits role at $67,145. Other line items include public assistance at $5,000, municipal court total request $10,496, and a DPW administration section that references a 2026 budget of $1,334,704. Building & Grounds wages show a requested FY2026 figure of $157,307, an $11,961 increase from the prior year for an 8.23% rise.

The MRI posting is linked administratively with other town recruitments; Charlestown is also advertising for a Police Chief, described as "progressive, community-oriented" to lead a department of five full-time officers, two part-time officers, and four full-time dispatchers. Applications for that role were directed to recruitment@mrigov.com with a first-review deadline of 8 AM EST on Monday, February 16, 2026.

For now the practical impact for homeowners is straightforward: assessments will be updated to reflect a market snapshot as of April 1, 2026, based on sales from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026. How that recalculation will translate into tax-bill changes depends on the Selectboard, the Budget Committee, and the final tax rate once the town completes its fiscal planning. Residents who want details or who expect to appeal forthcoming assessments should monitor town notices and contact Alan Gould at 603-279-0352 x320 or recruitment@mrigov.com for further information.