Windham’s tax assessor’s database is going back online, but homeowners now have the option to remove their tax information from the Internet database.
The Town Council voted unanimously on a resolution to repost residents’ tax information on the Internet via the town’s website, www.windhamweb.com. However, all Windham residents may now request, through writing, that their information be kept off the site. This brings to an end, for now, the local debate between homeowners’ privacy, the cyberage and what is declared by law to be public record.
The information in the database includes home addresses, homeowners’ names, tax obligation and a brief description of their property. This information is used regularly by people involved in the real estate business, such as real estate agents and mortgage brokers, and by private citizens.
The issue of homeowners’ privacy – specifically concerning the tax assessor’s plan to post pictures of house with the tax information – prompted the temporary removal of the database in October. Councilor Carol Waig worried that criminals might use the website to “scope” out homes for ill intentions.
“This is not just me being paranoid,” Waig said before the vote. “This is an overwhelming concern from residents in the community who fear that that there are people who want to use this database for less than noble reasons.”
Currently, 22 out of the 29 towns in Cumberland County post tax databases online. Some, like Westbrook, impose security restrictions where Internet browsers create a log-in and password to access the site.
Tax Assessor David Sawyer says he will impose the same restriction to the new “live” tax assessor’s database, updated quarterly, which will include pictures along with information about the property and the homeowner’s tax commitment.
This “live” database, to be created this spring pending a property revaluation, will be online along with the old assessor’s database. Sawyer hopes to put the old database back online as soon as possible.
In discussions prior to the vote, Sawyer contended that the information was a matter of public record available to anyone who requested it at the assessor’s office. Aside from people in the real estate business, some residents use it to check the accuracy of their tax assessment, he said.
Earlier, it had been assumed that the tax information either all had to be put online or none at all. But after consulting with town attorney Kenneth Cole, it was discovered that taxpayers could “opt out” of the online database as long as their information remained public at the tax assessor’s office.
“I’m happy there is this policy in place,” Sawyer said of the council’s resolution. “They combined the feeling that government should be open with the privacy concerns and created a good compromise.”
Charlie Tufts, owner/broker for local “Team Real Estate” of Coldwell Banker, is “thrilled” that the database is going back online. His office uses the service 10 to 15 times a day to check on properties for clients.
“If somebody is concerned about their privacy and want to take their information off (the database), I have no problem with that,” Tufts said. “We all work with computers here. This is public information to begin with, but the question is whether we can access it here or have to drive down to the assessor’s office to get it.”
A disclaimer on the new assessor’s database will let the public know that not all records are posted on the site. Initial notices of the changes to the tax assessor’s database will be issued to all Windham residents on June 1 along with notice of the new property revaluation assessments.
Those who want their information removed must request it in writing to the tax assessor’s office. Residents may either write a letter or e-mail the tax assessor at dgsawyer@town.windham.me.us.
Once notified, the assessing office then has 90 days to remove the information from the site.
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