Friday Updates - May 23, 2025

Friday, May 23, 2025

The Town Offices and Durham Public Library will be closed on Monday, May 26, for the Memorial Day Holiday.

COMING THIS SUMMER - 2025 PROPERTY VALUE STATISTICAL UPDATE

The Town of Durham is working with Whitney Consulting Group, LLC and Town Assessor Darcy Freer to update property values for the 2025 tax year. This update, called a statistical revaluation, is required by the State of New Hampshire to ensure that all property assessments are fair and reflect current real estate market conditions as of April 1, 2025.

The last full revaluation in Durham was completed in 2023, when property assessments were found to be, on average, 94.2% of actual market value. Each year, the Town monitors real estate sales to track changes in property values. For the 2024 tax year, this monitoring showed that assessments had dropped to 82.5% of current market value. In simple terms, this means Durham’s real estate market values increased by about 11.7% in just one year. State law requires towns to keep assessments within 90% to 110% of market value after a revaluation. Because our assessments have fallen below this range, this year’s update is necessary to bring property values back in line with the market and make sure everyone is paying their fair share.

What to Expect…

• Preliminary new property values will be mailed to all property owners in late August or September 2025.
• These values are based on recent sales and should reflect what your property could sell for in today’s market.
• You’ll have the opportunity to review your new value and, if you have questions or concerns, schedule a one-on-one informal hearing with the Assessor and Whitney Consulting Group. Instructions for scheduling an appointment will be included with your notice.

It’s important to remember that an increase in your property’s assessed value does not automatically mean your property taxes will go up. After the revaluation, the overall tax rate is adjusted based on the new total town value. Often, when property values go up across the board, the tax rate goes down. Please do not use the current tax rate to estimate your new taxes. The final rate will be set by the state later in the year after all budgets are finalized.

If, after receiving your fall tax bill, you still believe your new assessment does not reflect market value, you have the right to file a formal appeal (called an “abatement request”) with the Town. The deadline for this is March 1, 2026.

We’ll keep you updated throughout this process. Updates will be shared in the weekly Friday Updates e-newsletter, and more information will be posted on the Assessing Department’s page at www.ci.durham.nh.us/assessing starting the week of May 19, 2025.

If you have any questions at any time, please contact the Assessor’s Office at (603) 868-8064. Thank you for your cooperation as we work to keep Durham’s property assessments fair and up to date.

Come to the Durham Historic Association Museum at 2 Dover Road on Saturday, May 31st, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. for the unveiling of our new exhibit, "How and Why Did Englishmen Come to Oyster River Plantation?" The main attraction of the new exhibit is a near replica of the ship Jonathan, which brought David Thomson to Piscataqua in 1623. This very detailed model was crafted and donated to the DHA by expert ship modeler, Alan Bennett, and it serves as an example of the kind of ship that adventurers and settlers sailed across the Atlantic to seek a better life. Alan Bennett will be present to discuss his work. 

This event also marks the start of our summer hours. The museum will be open every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. through Labor Day weekend. We welcome you to visit and explore Durham's 400-year history in eight chronological periods, from the 17th century to the present, in air-conditioned comfort. The museum is located on the second floor of the old Town Hall/District Court brick building on the corner of Rt. 108 at the traffic lights. Parking is available directly behind the building. For visits outside of regular hours, please contact museum curator, Nancy Sandberg, at nancy.sandberg@comcast.net.

ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION PRESENTS A FREE EVENT - "The Shock of Colonialism: Archeology in a New England Frontier"

The Active Retirement Association (ARA) announces a FREE event, “The Shock of Colonialism: Archaeology in a New England Frontier.”

The presenter is Meghan C. L. Howey, PhD, UNH Professor of Anthropology and in the Earth Systems Research Center and currently the Director of the Center for the Humanities. She is also the Director of The Great Bay Archaeological Survey. This event will take place on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 2:00 – 3:30 PM, at the Durham Evangelical Church (lower level), 114 Dover Road (Route 108), Durham, NH. Dr. Howey will share stories of global colonialism (ca. 1600-1750) embedded in the local landscape of the Great Bay Estuary from her new book, The Shock of Colonialism in New England: Fragments from a Frontier.

This FREE event is open to the public and is a part of the ARA’s Memorial Fund Lecture Series established in 2004 with a grant from the Robert E. Smith family and further endowed by membership donations. Pre-registration is not required and light refreshments will be served – bring a friend or two!

The ARA is an all-volunteer organization for people ages 50 and over, whether retired or not. Originally begun by and affiliated with UNH, it has over 380 members from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and beyond. The ARA is committed to expanding the world of its members by offering lectures, workshops, discussion groups, films, cultural tours, walks/hikes, on-demand member interest groups, and much more. For more information visit www.unh.edu/ara or to inquire about membership write to arainfo1982@gmail.com

The Active Retirement Association, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is not affiliated with any political, religious, ethnic, or special interest group.

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - If applicants don't have all required certifications, DPW may be able to work with them to ensure they obtain such within a reasonable time frame.

Traffic Control Division – Traffic Control Specialist

The successful candidate will undertake rewarding and challenging work involving the maintenance, construction, and operation of traffic control signals and devices, street signs, pavement markings, and street lighting systems to ensure the safety and functionality of the Town’s multi-modal transportation network. In this versatile and exciting role, you will report to the Operations Manager and Assistant Public Works Director.

This full-time position offers excellent medical, dental, life, and disability coverage, paid time off, and eligibility in the State of New Hampshire retirement plan. The salary range for this position is from $25.09 to $28.59/HR, depending upon qualifications.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of three (3) years of experience in the trades and construction field, with a strong emphasis on working with traffic control systems. Applicants will have a current State of New Hampshire Class B Commercial Driver’s License with Air Brake Endorsement. A Certified Flagger designation or an ability to obtain within three (3) months of hire is required. This position requires emergency response on a 24/7 basis and performing work in adverse weather conditions.

Please send resume and cover letter to Durham Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us by 3:30 PM on June 5, 2025. 

Applications and a more detailed job description are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs.

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Planned May School Closure

All Oyster River schools and the SAU office will be closed on May 26 in observance of Memorial Day.

May 27 Strategic Planning Session

Superintendent Shaps invites the Oyster River community to join him at Oyster River Middle School on May 27, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., for a Strategic Planning Session. This is an opportunity for Oyster River community members to contribute to ORCSD’s next 5-year strategic plan. During this sessions, Dr. Shaps will guide participants through the World Café protocol, a collaborative and interactive approach to group discussions designed to share ideas and generate collective insights. Please let us know if you plan to attend by completing this form HERE so we can accommodate everyone.

May 29 Mast Way Art Show

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Mast Way School (23 Mast Rd, Lee, NH 03861).

May 30 Mast Way Mayfair

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at Mast Way School (23 Mast Rd, Lee, NH 03861).

May 30 Coffee House

6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Multipurpose room at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). Coffee House celebrates the quarterly launch of award-winning student publication Mouth of the River. The $5 admission can be purchased at the door and is one of MOR's primary fundraising sources. Food and drink are included with admission.