Assessing

Donna M. Hays, CMA serves as an agent of the Board of Assessors. Each spring (after April 1), Donna reviews all new construction and properties that have building permits or are being carried as unfinished on the town’s records. The agent also processes all the property transfers and reviews the application for exemptions. Donna is in the office two Mondays each month and if you wish to speak with her about your valuation, please call the Town Office or click here to email her.
 
Please note: Donna responds to emails during her office hours only.

 

Durham's last town-wide assessment was in 2010. 

Maine Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF) Program

The State of Maine received $50 million from the U.S. Treasury’s Homeowner Assistance Fund, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide relief to homeowners who suffered financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Homeowner Assistance Fund can provide eligible homeowners with up to $50,000 in benefits. These benefits can be used for a variety of expenses or past-due bills including mortgage payments for Maine homeowners.  For more information, click here.

Property Tax Exemptions

The following information is provided in an effort to help reduce your property tax burden. 

Current Use Programs

The State of Maine offers the following “current use programs” which give the property owner a reduction in their assessed value. Applications for all of these programs are available at the Town Office or at the Maine Revenue Services website and must be filed on or before April 1. 

Property Tax Fairness Credit

The State of Maine also offers a Property Tax Fairness Credit.  Eligible Maine taxpayers may receive a portion of the property tax or rent paid during the tax year on the Maine individual income tax return whether they owe Maine income tax or not.  To claim credit, file Form 1040ME and Schedule PTFC for the tax year during which the property tax or rent was paid.  For more information, click here.

State Property Tax Deferral Program

The State Property Tax Deferral Program is a lifeline loan program that can cover the annual property tax bills of Maine people who are ages 65 and older or are permanently disabled and who cannot afford to pay them on their own. The loan program allows Maine’s most vulnerable community members to age in place and ensures that property taxes are still delivered to municipalities, requiring repayment of the loan once the property is sold or becomes part of an estate. For more information, click here.