What is a
Revaluation?
Rebalancing
A revaluation rebalances the values of property to bring it to fair market value
Recognition of your investment
You purchased your home to set yourself up for success long term, this is a recognition of that hard work.
Growth
Your home’s recognized value has grown, independent of whether your tax bill grows by the same amount.
BY THE NUMBERS
Lewiston’s FY2026 → FY2027 Revaluation
The citywide shift behind every number on this page.
TOTAL ASSESSED VALUE
$2.31B → $4.40B
Citywide, all property types
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
$11,500 → $25,000
Shields more of your home’s value
YEARS SINCE LAST REVALUATION
~30 years
Why the jump feels large now
MIL RATE
Recalculated annually
levy ÷ assessed value × 1,000
NOW, LET’S MAKE IT REAL
See What This Means for Your Home
Enter your assessed value before and after the revaluation below.
How a Revaluation Impacts You
Your Equity
Your home’s assessed value now reflects what it’s actually worth. For long-time owners, this gap is often the single largest source of household wealth, built through decades of payments, upkeep, and a market that moved without you doing anything.
Your Tax Bill
The mil rate is recalculated using the city’s total levy and total assessed value. When citywide assessed value nearly doubles, the rate drops to compensate. The Homestead Exemption also grew, from $11,500 to $25,000 for FY2027.
Your Community
The same assessed values fund every city department and the school district. A revaluation redistributes who pays what share of the same pool: it’s rebalancing, not a citywide tax hike on its own.
RESIDENT STORIES
Stories From
Neighbors Like You
Margaret
Homeowner since 1986
I did the only math I knew how to do: a bigger number on the assessment must mean a bigger bill. I was wrong. My equity grew by $220,000.
Jess
New homeowner, FY2027
I just closed on my first home. I want to know what this means before next year’s payment, not after. My assessment already reflects current value.
Marcus
Renter, downtown Lewiston
I don’t own anything here, but I notice when rent changes. The mil rate dropped even as values rose, so it’s worth asking what’s really behind any increase.
Linda
Small business owner, Lisbon Street
My storefront was reassessed too. Commercial property doesn’t get the Homestead Exemption, so my share of the adjustment landed differently than it did for homeowners on my block.
RESOURCES
Where to Go Next
Whether you’re staying, downsizing, or just want clarity, start here.
ASK
City Assessor’s Office
Questions about your specific assessment, abatement requests, or how your property was valued go here first. Bring your assessment notice and recent comparable sales if you plan to dispute a value.
PLAN
Homestead Exemption
If this is your primary residence and you’ve owned it for at least 12 months, you likely qualify for the $25,000 exemption. Apply once; it renews automatically each year.
SUPPORT
If You’re Worried About Affording Your Bill
Property tax assistance and deferral programs exist for seniors, veterans, and residents with limited income. Ask the Assessor’s Office which programs you may qualify for before deciding to sell or move.
LEARN
Revaluation 101
The full mechanics, for anyone who wants to go deeper.
What is a revaluation?
A revaluation is when a city re-assesses the market value of every property within it, so assessed values reflect what properties are actually worth. Lewiston’s previous citywide revaluation was completed roughly 30 years ago.
Why does assessed value matter?
Assessed value is the basis the city uses to divide the total property tax levy across all property owners. It isn’t the same as what a home would sell for, though after a revaluation the two numbers are much closer.
How is the mil rate calculated?
The mil rate is the dollar amount of tax charged per $1,000 of assessed value, recalculated every year: mil rate = total property tax levy ÷ total citywide assessed value × 1,000. Because Lewiston’s total assessed value nearly doubled after the revaluation, the mil rate dropped substantially, even as the total levy went up.
What does the Homestead Exemption do?
It reduces the taxable portion of a primary residence’s assessed value. For FY2027, the exemption increased to $25,000, up from $11,500 in FY2026.
What this does and doesn’t mean for you
It does mean your home’s recognized value, your equity, has likely increased, often substantially. It doesn’t automatically mean your tax bill increased by the same percentage; the mil rate adjustment and homestead exemption both affect the final number.
What if I disagree with my new assessment?
You can request an abatement, a formal review of your assessed value, through the Assessor’s Office, typically within a set window after assessment notices go out. Bring evidence: recent comparable sales nearby, condition issues not reflected in city records, or a documented appraisal.
Will this happen again soon?
Maine law doesn’t require annual revaluations, which is exactly how Lewiston went 30 years between them. Many municipalities now aim for more frequent, smaller adjustments to avoid this kind of sudden jump in the future.
Does this affect commercial and rental properties too?
Yes, every property type was reassessed, not just owner-occupied homes. Rental and commercial property owners don’t qualify for the Homestead Exemption, so their share of the adjustment can land differently than it does for primary residences.
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