1e925112-0063-4a24-89d9-691d5f17be49 Property Taxes Property Tax Forms See General Massachusetts site with forms and guides [external site] THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS What is mass appraisal? Assessors must value all real and personal property in the community to their full and fair cash value. Mass appraisal is the process used by every Massachusetts City and town to create the property assessments. Assessments are based on an analysis of Windsor’s entire real estate market for a specified period of time. This study guides the setting of valuation parameters that are used to calculate the property values town-wide. It differs from the more well-known “bank” or fee appraisal. Although the appraisal concepts are the same and the results similar, the process is different. No particular sale or group of sales is used to determine the value of your property, but all of a certain calendar year’s sales are included in the analysis that set the parameters for the next fiscal year. What is market value? Market value, or full and fair cash value, is the most probable price for which a property will sell in an open, competitive market that a willing buyer will pay for a property to a willing seller, both acting knowledgeably and prudently and neither being under any obligation to buy or sell. Sales such as foreclosures and family sales are not considered to be “arms-length” or fair market transactions. When my neighbor's house sells, will their price determine my assessment? Not necessarily. As explained in the previous question, sales are analyzed town-wide. An example of what could be relevant is if there were several sales in an area indicating that the assessments were too low compared to the sales prices. How often does the valuation of properties change? Every year the Assessors subject the arms-length sales that occurred in the prior calendar year to a statistical examination based on market area, style of house, age of house, effective area, size of lot and sale price to see what changes the market has shown. The tables used in the Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system are adjusted so that the median assessment of the sales sample is within 10% of 100% of market value, and the dispersion of the assessments to sales ratios in the sample are within state guidelines. These new factors are then applied to all properties for the new Fiscal Year. Every third year the Department of Revenue (DOR) requires each city or town to conduct a revaluation. This is a year-long process during which the DOR examines every phase of the assessing operation before certifying the values. During the two years in between revaluations the Assessors may change the values if sales activity so indicates. These yearly updates are called Interim Year Adjustments. The last Re-certification was completed in fiscal year 2016. How is the calendar year different from the fiscal year? Massachusetts cities and towns operate on a “Fiscal Year” basis. The calendar year runs from January 1st through December 31st. The fiscal year goes from July 1st through June 30th. The assessment date is January 1st preceding the fiscal year. That is, for Fiscal Year 2016 the assessment date is January 1, 2015. ASPECTS OF PROPERTY VALUATION Where can I find the detail on my property? Property record cards, which contain ownership information, visit history, land and building details, and other notes, and which display a property’s valuation, are available in the Assessors’ office, 1890 Route 9. You can also view your record card and many of these details on-line using the link available on this web site. What do the assessors look at when determining an assessment? The assessor collects many data elements about a property in order to develop the total valuation. The most significant factors in determining the value are location and land area and style, quality, size, condition and age of the building(s). Other factors include amenities or detriments as well as features in the building such as number of bathrooms, type of heating/cooling, interior/exterior finishes, and special features including fireplaces, saunas and Jacuzzis. Also considered are detached structures. How do I know if my valuation is fair and equitable? The best comparisons are to properties that have sold that are the most similar in the most aspects to your property. You can also compare your property’s assessment to the assessments of the most similar properties. Although properties will most likely never be a perfect match, assessments for similar properties should fall in a close range of valuations. How can my assessed value increase (decrease) when I did not do anything to the property in 5 years and I am not selling the property? The assessed value represents the estimate of market value of the property. The real estate market changes constantly. The assessment for FY2016 represents the estimate of market value as of January 1, 2015. This estimate of market value is determined by examining sales of properties from calendar year 2013 and 2014 (we use two years due to lack of sales data in Windsor). Although there may not have been any physical changes to the property, buyers may be paying more or less for properties than they were in previous years. The assessment changes reflect the changes in the purchase prices of similar homes in the neighborhood. The assessments do not predict market value. The assessments reflect (or report) market value. The real estate market can change dramatically from year to year. Buyers and sellers determine the market value of properties. The assessments reflect what the buyers and sellers are doing as of the assessment date. What will happen if I put an addition on my property? Are the actual construction costs of a new home used to determine the new assessment? Historical sales have indicated that larger properties sell for more than smaller properties with all other factors being equal. If an addition is put on a home, the house becomes larger. The assessors would then have to see what similarly sized properties were selling for in the neighborhood. It is highly likely that the assessed value of your property will increase once the addition is put on the property. Generally speaking, improvements that increase the market value of a property will increase the assessment. Why did my valuation change from the prior year's valuation more (less) than my neighbor's? Market value changes occur in many forms. From year to year economic conditions and local factors change and influence the values of different classes of property in different ways. Buyers have different requirements and these requirements sometimes change from year to year. Renovations may have been performed on a property that would cause a change in assessed value different from a similar property that did not undergo renovations. A recent inspection by the Assessor’s office also may have contributed to a change in assessed value, perhaps adding something that had been missed or reducing something that was overstated. Your style or size or land area or other factor(s) may differ from your neighbor’s and that caused the valuation changes to differ. I think my assessment is out of line with my neighbor's property, whose property is assessed lower. I want my assessment to be as low as theirs. The first step in comparing properties is to examine the factual components of each property. Many times properties that appear larger are in fact much smaller than people think. Quality characteristics should also be examined when making comparisons. Ultimately, the assessors have to determine if the assessment represents market value on the subject property and also if the assessed value on the neighbor’s property represents market value. If a neighboring property is too low in relation to surrounding properties, the assessors cannot compound their low assessment by also lowering surrounding properties. The resolution may be that the assessors have to raise the neighboring property’s assessed value to make it more in line with the surrounding properties. The most important criterion the assessors examine in an abatement request is the market value of the property of the person filing the abatement and the market value of any property that the person filing the abatement mentions on the application. I recently purchased my home for a price which is different than the valuation for this year. How is this possible? The real estate market is not a “perfect market” and price is not always equal to value. Similar properties usually do not sell for exactly the same price because the motivations of buyers and sellers are not always similar. Similar properties usually tend to sell within a “value range” rather than for one specific price. According to the definition of fair market value, your value represents “the most probable selling price” and tends to be the middle of the range of what similar properties have recently sold for. Therefore, your appraised value could be higher or lower than what you actually paid for your property. In addition, state laws (statutes) require that real estate be assessed at 100% of market value as of January 1st immediately preceding the current fiscal year. This is the assessment date. The sales considered in order to determine the market value are those that took place during the calendar year prior to the assessment date. If your sale took place subsequent to the assessment date, it will be in the group of sales analyzed in the preparation of the following year’s valuations, and is not relevant to the current year’s valuation. Why does the Assessor need to enter my house? A total inspection of all factors that influence the value results in the most accurate assessment of a property. We request the inspection in order to be as fair and accurate as possible. Items such as condition of the rooms, quality of the finish, areas of finished versus unfinished, can only be confirmed with an interior inspection. Without actual information, estimates of the interior information have to be made. Will an inspection change the value of my house? Depending on the accuracy of the current data about the property, it may or may not. However, the valuation for the current fiscal year will not be changed mid-year unless your property meets the strict qualifications for a supplemental tax bill (usually only major new construction), which Windsor does not currently have the authority to do. What happens if I refuse to allow the property lister to enter my home? You do not have to allow the assessors into your home. However, if an assessor is denied entrance, property owners give up their ability to challenge the assessed value. Will I be penalized if I allow the assessors in and my neighbor does not? In instances where the assessors do not get into a property, estimates are made about the condition of the interior of the property. Accurate assessments are based on accurate information. By allowing the assessors to view the interior and exterior of your property, your assessed value is based on accurate information. If a person does not allow the assessors to view the interior and exterior of a property, estimates are made about the condition of the interior of the property, the kitchen and bath qualities, and where there is finished attic space and finished basement space. If the estimates are overstated, property owners may contact the assessor’s office to arrange an interior and exterior inspection of their property. TAX RATE/TAX BILL How is the tax rate calculated? The tax rate, in its simplest form, is the tax levy divided by the town’s taxable valuation. This is called the Uniform Tax Rate. At the May Annual Town Meeting residents vote appropriations for the upcoming Fiscal Year. This is called the tax levy. The Assessors’ primary responsibility is to find the “full and fair cash value” of your property so that the taxpayer may pay only his/her fair share of taxes. How will the new valuation affect my tax bill? If my assessment went down, how can my tax bill go up? Individual assessments may rise or fall depending on the characteristics of the property. The purpose of mass appraisal is to value all property by the same standards at the same time to create an equitable distribution of the tax levy. If the same amount of money is to be raised for the current year after a valuation update from the previous year, and each assessment has doubled, the tax rate would be cut in half; and vice versa, if each assessment decreased by 20%, and the same amount of money was to be raised, the tax rate may increase by 20%. Increases or decreases in assessed values to not cause a tax increase or decrease. How can my tax bill go up more than 2.5%? Doesn’t Proposition 2 ½ limit the tax increase? Proposition 2 ½ limits the amount of taxes Massachusetts communities can raise for the current year from the previous year’s levy limit. To this a town may add new growth (increased valuations caused by new construction, renovations or land use changes) and overrides voted by the town. I cannot afford this tax bill (on fixed income, lost my job, have financial issues). Can’t the Assessors lower this assessment to accommodate this situation? By law, the Assessors must value all property at 100% of full and fair cash value, using methodologies approved by the DOR applied consistently to every property. Properties need to be valued without regard to the owner’s ability to pay the taxes. (See exemption section below for some programs that are available for some tax relief.) EXEMPTIONS & ABATEMENTS See the page on exemptions & abatements Related Services Tax Abatement & Exemption Applications Related Boards & Departments Assessor

b6c1fb33-c565-470e-9b5e-85e98764c0b4 Accounting Department Accountants Barbara Newton barbara@erickinsherfcpa.com Eric A. Kinsherf, CPA Meetings N/A Public bid and contract Description They provide outsourced accounting services to Windsor - providing accurate record keeping, timely report filing, and guaranteeing year-end closing success. Information Related Services

9af92f35-b432-467e-890c-9fcd4d0942ce Westfield River Members The Windsor representatives to the Wild & Scenic Westfield River committee are: Jim Caffrey jcaffrey@thetrustees.org 413-684-2182 David Zink davideo007@yahoo.com 413-684-1459 Appointed yearly by the Select Board. Description Our mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the special qualities and outstanding resources of the Westfield River Watershed in concert with local communities. Information The Westfield River flows about 5 miles through Windsor, providing the (dammed) swimming center at the Windsor State Forest and the tiny undammed simming hole sometimes known as the "chalk pond" along River Road. A committee helps to conserve the river, and some Windsor representatives help the committee. Read about the Wild & Scenic Westfield River [link] committee. Related Services Parks: What and Where?

6206351f-203c-4cbb-b232-a00cfb3545ff Tax Collector/Treasurer Staff Kirsten Henshaw (Treasurer / Tax Collector) 413-684-3811 ext 3 khenshaw@windsormass.com 1890 Route 9, Suite 5 Windsor, MA 01270 Meetings Tuesdays 10am-noon or by appointment khenshaw@windsormass.com Hired by the Select Board for a 3 year term. Description The Treasurer is responsible for managing all town moneys, disperses all cash, manages debt obligations and banking relations. Administers group insurance and is responsible for payroll, pension and retirement systems. The Tax Collector is responsible for overall administration for local taxes. Information Related Services Pay Windsor Town Fees

c70de9cd-6bf3-4195-a3bd-3cd3a327c668 Cemetery plots and interments Cemeteries The Town of Windsor maintains 5 cemeteries holding approximately 1,100 people going back to 1774. Bush Cemetery East Windsor Cemetery Shaw Cemetery (with the new "Franek Lot") Peru Road Cemetery Windsor Hill Cemetery Plus, there is one grave marker on Savoy Road Plots Town residents may purchase a plot by contacting the Cemetery Commission chair. Cemetery plots are 4' x 10' and are available for $150 with a check to "Town of Windsor". Interments Full interments are to be managed by a funeral home and require a payment of $100 - Town of Windsor $100 - Sexton $550 - Excavator Cremation burial for an urn 12" x 6" ... 24" deep requires a payment of $100 - Town of Windsor $100 - Sexton Installation Corner Posts (4): $75 - Sexton Veteran Markers (granite): $45 - Sexton Veteran Markers (bronze): $60 - Sexton Flush Markers: $50 - Sexton Baby Markers (no larger than 21" x 10"): $45 - Sexton All rates are subject to change by the majority of the Cemetery Commission. There will be no interments November 1 – April 1 except with the approval of the Sexton. Full Cemetery Rules & Regulations [pdf]. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Cemetery Commission

2c0e7c7f-81a2-482d-80c4-2b32693d67f6 Parks: What and Where? The Town of Windsor has several great places to visit - for families with children, people looking for some wooded solitude and beauty, and for those hoping to have some outdoor fun. Windsor Town Park The 5-acre park is located approximately 1/2 mile up Peru Rd on the left. It has a ball field, covered pavilion with picnic tables, a playground, and parking. It is open to all town residents. Summer activities include pick-up games and outdoor movies. The park is available for rental. Please read this description [pdf] for details. Notchview Cross-Country Skiing and Hiking The Trustees of Reservations (a private, not-for-profit land trust in the State of Massachusetts) maintains Notchview , an incredible protected 3,000 acre woodland that is available year round for hiking, and in the winter maintains an incredible network of cross-country ski trails. Winter ski passes are available sale at the visitor center, but if you tell them you are a resident of windsor, you can ski for free. Windsor State Forest - Swimming and the Windsor "Jambs" We are lucky enough to be the home of one of the Windsor State Forest . It is about 1,200 acres and the recreation area is in the middle of a significant renovation that is expected to open Summer 2021 for swimming in the dammed Westfield River with day use. The Windsor "Jambs" is an incredible deep fissure in the rocks with cold rough and exciting water. There is a parking lot at the top and a trail down the side with some incredible views. At the bottom of the trail (about 1/4 mile or so), the water levels out and there are some good rocks for wading and relaxing in the shade. Windsor Pond In the far north east corner of Windsor - accessible only by going out of Windsor to Savoy is a beautiful pond. About 50 acres, it is mostly accessible only through private land - but the large ramp is public access and available for swimming and boating. Eugene Moran Wildlife Management Area Mass Audobon manages this beautiful 1,462 acre Wildlife Management Area . Previously a dairy farm, it is now a prime destination for birding and nature walks. Related Services Related Boards & Departments Parks & Recreation Westfield River

f3b72a29-1f3c-41e8-bd33-dd9117052816 Apply for Permits The Town of Windsor has adopted online permitting through the Berkshire Online Permitting System. Contractors and homeowners must set up an account in order to apply for permits as listed below. Board of Health Permits: Permit system , instructions [pdf] and fees [pdf] Building Permits: Permit eyes system Building Permit Fees Voted and Accepted at the June 1, 2020 Annual Town meeting Full list of building, electrical, and plumbing/gas permit fees [pdf] Related Services How & What to Get Inspected Related Boards & Departments Board of Health Inspections

62ce4131-c834-4ebb-b703-16db08e05309 Veterans Services While the Town of Windsor does not itself provide any specific services for Veterans, nearby Pittsfield does, and they have agreed to provide help to Windsor residents, coordinating health care and connecting veterans to local services. This is our agreement [pdf] with the city of Pittsfield regarding Veterans' Services. Jim Clark , US Army Retired Lt. Col. Director of Veterans’ Services City of Pittsfield 330 North Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 499-9433 jclark@cityofpittsfield.org www.cityofpittsfield.org Related Services Related Boards & Departments

d8f4e08c-da62-4a77-b5f2-accf57f22f0a Master Plan for Windsor The Planning Board appointed the Master Plan Steering Committee in November 2021 to develop a Master Plan for the Town. After an extensive process—including a survey distributed throughout the Town and answered by nearly 20% of adult residents—the Plan is being finalized and anticipated to be released in late November 2022. Documents The Master Plan (Nov 2022) [pdf] Wild & Scenic Westfield River Stewardship Plan [pdf] Master Plan Survey Results [pdf] Related Services Related Boards & Departments Planning Board

069c0016-9f4b-4dab-8471-b477dba0bc73 Staffing The Town of Windsor is run by a combination of paid staff and volunteers. The following information applies to all people working for Windsor, whether paid, elected or appointed, unless otherwise noted. Board & Committee Handbook April 2024 [pdf] Employee Handbook Dec 2023 [pdf] (for paid staff only) Windsor Oath of Office All people working for windsor whether paid, elected or appointed must adhere to this oath of office. "I solumnly swear to faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me in accordance with the bylaws of the Town of Windsor and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I promise to own my office, using my talents to help Windsor be the best place it can be." Open Meeting Law All people working for windsor whether paid, elected or appointed must follow Massachusetts open meeting laws. Furthermore, each person is expected to take the following training. Training [external site] - Massachusetts maintains a website that provides training about the Open Meeting Law. Conflict of Interest Law The conflict of interest law, M.G.L. Chapter 268A, seeks to prevent conflicts between private interests and public duties, foster integrity in public service, and promote the public’s trust and confidence in that service by placing restrictions on what municipal employees may do on the job, after hours, and after leaving public service. In compliance with Section 27 of the law, every state, county and municipal employee shall, within 30 days of becoming such an employee, and on an annual basis thereafter , review this summary of the COI law prepared by the State Ethics Commission and sign the acknowledgment at the end of the summary and return it to the Town Clerk . In addition, all employees must complete the e-learning course provided by the State Ethics Commission . Municipal employees are required to take the course every other year for the duration of their employment. It provides an overview of the state conflict of interest law and the various issues you might encounter as a public employee. Recognizing and properly responding to a conflict of interest is a key element to maintaining the public’s confidence in government and in the integrity of the work we do as public employees. If, after taking this course, you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the State Ethics Commission. Upon completion, you must send the provided certificate of training to the Windsor Town Clerk. Employment Opportunities If the Town of Windsor has any employment opportunities, they will be listed here along with an application [Google Drive]. Related Services Related Boards & Departments

a45512a6-6fd7-47a1-a576-41765057b441 Dog Licenses Town of Windsor Dog Licensing Information State Law and Town Bylaws require all dogs six (6) months or older to be licensed. ****The licensing period is from April 1 – March 31 each year**** A dog license and dog tags go together but are two different things. The dog license is the piece of paper you need to keep in your records. It contains pertinent information about your dog. Each license has a number. Dog tags are the metal tags that you attach to your dog's collar. These also have a number on them. The dog tag number is written on the dog license. These numbers are not usually the same. Dog licenses are issued for 3 years. $15 for a spayed/neutered dog $30 for an intact dog $10 late fee (applied after May 1) $5 Replacement tag fee Due to changes in state law, Ollie's Law, all homes with 4 or more dogs are now considered a Kennel and require a Kennel license. The cost of the license will be based per dog and be the same as above, $15 for each spayed/neutered and $30 for each intact. Good for 3 years. Rabies vaccination records are sent by local vets monthly. Records will be updated and reviewed monthly. Complete one form for each dog owned. If this is your first time registering your dog, you need to include the rabies certificate. If you have registered your dog before, either include the rabies certificate or the name of the vet that gave the rabies vaccine. Mail to: Town Clerk, 1890 Route 9 Suite 2, Windsor, MA 01270 with check made out to "Town of Windsor". Include stamped self-addressed envelope. Or, Visit the Town Clerk Office . Dog License Form [pdf] All outstanding fees must be paid before a new license is issued. If your dog is not registered by the due date, further fines may be imposed. Any questions, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 413-684-3811 #1 Related Services Related Boards & Departments Town Clerk

f632eba4-f83d-4267-906f-d6ad6644d3f0 Transfer Station Disposing of your trash and recyclables in Windsor requires an annual "car sticker", and there are fees to dispose of various items. Car stickers cost $75 annually and are available from the Town Clerk during their office hours along with a check payable to "Town of Windsor". New stickers are required by July 1 each year. You will need to fill out and can send this form [pdf] to: Transfer Station Permit 1890 Route 9, Suite 2 Windsor, MA 01270 Special Collections for 2025 Shared services [pdf] – tires, electronics, mattresses, flourescents, batteries, thermostats Holiday Recycling Reminders See guidance [pdf] Holiday string lights [pdf] NEW "tag" system to replace bags (November 2023) In an effort to reduce the introduction of unnecessary plastic to the waste stream, Windsor is discontinuing the sale of the blue/green garbage bags for the pay to throw program. We will now sell tags to be affixed to the trash going into the compactor. Each tag costing $1 entitles you to throw 33 gallons of trash (the amount you could previously get into a large blue bag.) You can choose to use large plastic bags, or you can use paper or other options. If you have 50 pound feed bags, dog food bags etc. two of them are equivalent to the 33 gallons. We still have quite a few of the smaller bags if you want to use them until they run out. This program has been successfully introduced in neighboring towns and residents have been pleased with having options to plastic bags. The tags will continue to be sold at the two general stores. A page of five stickers for $5. Simply attach the tag to whatever bags you choose to use. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the tags [pdf] Swap Shop (Windsor Mall) One person's junk is another's treasure! Visit the Swap Shop when you visit the Transfer Station. Drop off stuff you don't need and find a treasure. Kids welcome! Food Composting (NEW - May 2025) Details here [pdf]. Summary: What we accept Meet & Bones Dairy & Eggs Bread & Grain Nuts & Seeds Fruits & Vegetables Coffee Grounds & Tea What we DO NOT accept Anything other than food including: Compostable Plastic & Bags Stickers & Labels Oil in Bulk Trash & Plastic Paper & Cardboard Twist Ties & Staples or Rubber Bands Sharps You can bring medical sharps (hypodermic needles, epi-pens, syringes, etc.). There is a sharps container inside the "mercury shed", or ask the attendant. Medication Disposal Not at the transfer station, but available at the Police station (lower level of Town Offices). Peel off or scribble over personal id info and drop the meds in the secure box. Don’t keep old meds around the house. It’s easy to dispose of them in the secure box. Information about Recyling and Trash "Beyond the Bin" website that lets you find the best way and place to donate or recycle items that don't get collected by Windsor. Learn more about book collection [pdf] in big blue box Windsor Recyling Guide [pdf] MassSave Fridge/Freezer hauls working refrigerators and freezers - and pays you $75 Western Mass recycling tips [pdf] Composting Why Should I Compost [pdf] Compost made easy [pdf] Earth machine outreach pre-orders 2025 [pdf] Pre-orderes open June 4. Distribution July 26, 2025. 6 minute video created for NBSWMD explaining composting from home [YouTube] Disposal Fees In addition to the car sticker, there are fees for disposing of all items (except recyclables). Household Garbage Tag stickers are required for disposing in Compactor - available for purchase at Friendly Fred's and Sangar General Store. Attach tag to each 33 gallon bag of garbage or equivalent. Page of 5 stickers - $5 Large Items Bicycle - $5 Wooden Chair - $5 Upholstered Chair - $20 Sofa - $45 Rug - $20 Box Spring - $25 Car tires - $6 Pickup truck tires - $15 Larger truck tiers - $80 Big tractor tire - $150 Commercial truck tire (6-18 wheeler) - $220 White Goods - $15 Note: Mattresses and box springs are no longer allowed - instead, they must be brought to the Dalton Transfer Station for recycling at $40 each. Note that any mattress that is soiled, wet, has bugs or human fluids and can not be recycled will have a significantly higher charge for disposal. Please read details here [pdf]. 7/29/25 Note about tire price changes: The cost to the town of disposal of tires continues to rise so we must reluctantly raise the charge to residents to drop off tires at the transfer station. The cost of larger ply tires like tractor tires see the most significant increases as they must be delaminated to process. We continue to recommend that where possible residents ask the dealer where they buy new tires to dispose of the old ones, as dealers have lower costs than individual towns. Demolition Materials Per Barrel - $5 6' Pickup - $75 8' Pickup - $90 One Ton - $165 Dump Truck - $365 Related Services Related Boards & Departments Transfer Station