WESTPORT–Westporters, if you’re not happy with your new assessment, there’s a bit of time to meet with the firm that calculated the new value.

Vision Government Solutions will meet by phone or in person with property owners until Dec. 23 to review new assessments.

The revaluation process, detailed here, is the way the Town of Westport “equalize[s] property values.”

Larger assessment does not necessarily mean a bigger tax bill

But keep in mind, an increase in an individual assessment does not necessarily generate a matching increase in the tax bill. The amount each property owner pays also depends on the Grand List – the sum of all taxable property in town – and the 2026 budget the town will set.

Late last week, the town sent letters to all property owners with their new assessments, showing sharp increases – 61% for residences and 17% for commercial properties, on average.

Is your new assessment higher or lower than average?

If an individual assessment rose by a greater percentage than the Grand List, the tax bill on the property would rise even if there was no change in the town budget for the next year. At the same time, if the individual assessment rose a smaller percentage than the Grand List, it would result in a smaller tax bill for the same budget.

Don’t multiply your new assessment by the old mill rate

The town’s letter cautions property owners that applying the new assessment to the current tax rate, or mill rate, will give an incorrect figure. The new tax rate will be set during the budget process in spring 2026.

“If you wish to have your new proposed assessment reviewed with a representative of Vision Government Solutions, you may do so by scheduling an appointment on-line www.vgsi.com/schedules,” the letter says. Property owners also can also call 1-888-844-4300 if they have no computer access or if they want to discuss more than one property.

Vision’s appointment schedule ends Dec. 23.

After meeting with the company, a property owner can contest the new assessment by filing a written appeal with the Board of Assessment Appeals between Feb. 1 and Feb. 20, 2026.

By state law, the town must conduct a complete revaluation every five years. The assessment represents 70% of the property’s market value.

As of Oct. 1, 2024, the Grand List was $11.6 billion, according to Town Assessor Paul Friia. The revaluation this year entailed visits to more than 7,000 properties – those that had not been visited in 10 years, Friia said.

“In addition, all taxable properties with buildings received a data mailer so that the owner could confirm their property information,” he said in an email.