Massachusetts

 A Business Plan for Standardized Assessors Parcels for Massachusetts

As proposed, MassGIS staff started the project by conducting a series of “workshops” around the state. The workshops presented the idea of standardized statewide assessor parcel mapping and its related benefits. Approximately 215 people, most from municipal departments, attended these events and provided useful insights. MassGIS also retained consulting assistance for developing the business plan. Working with the consultant, MassGIS staff conducted in-depth interviews with representatives of three important stakeholder communities: appraisers, assessors, and the state Department of Revenue’s Bureau of Local Assessment. Results from the workshops and interviews were incorporated into a draft of the business plan. The plan also
included information concerning the costs and benefits, both anecdotal and quantified, of developing statewide standardized parcel mapping. The plan further summarizes requirements for successful project implementation, identifies implementation risks, provides an implementation plan, and identifies criteria for measuring success. A draft of the plan was circulated for comment by stakeholders. To-date, the key success of the plan has been the dialog it has enabled with the Department of Revenue-Bureau of Local Assessment (DOR-BLA). The chief of the DOR-BLA has indicated she is willing to support a key recommendation of the plan which is having her agency recommend that communities conform to the MassGIS’ digital parcel standard as the “best practice” for assessor parcel mapping. Work on standardized parcel mapping is already funded. However, this will be a multi-year project; full funding is not guaranteed. Therefore, MassGIS views the plan as key for supporting future funding requests needed to complete the project.

Final Report -- Business Plan for Parcel Data

Interim Report  -- Workshop Presentation(PDF 5.75 MB)

Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs - MassGIS

Contacts:

Neil MacGaffey, Assistant Director, Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
617-626-1057
neil.macgaffey@state.ma.us

Christian Jacqz, Director, Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
617-626-1056
christian.jacqz@state.ma.us

Link to more information about the 50 States Initiative