We mailed update discs to all Assessing users Wednesday morning (August 18th).  Let us know if you do not receive it promptly.  It is worth mentioning again that this update includes the 2010 version of the MS-1 Form and should be installed before you generate your final report.  We apologize for the quick turn-around necessary for you to install the update, get the report signed by all the Selectmen, and submit it to DRA.  The process of getting the final version, implementing the changes into the application, receiving approval from DRA, and testing and distributing an update is no picnic for us either.

As always, the disc you receive will include a list of update notes.  If you just can't wait to read them, they are also available by clicking HERE.

If you need any help or have any questions regarding this update, do not hesitate to contact us.

Today we received approval of the final version of this year's MS-1 Form from DRA.  We are presently testing the new MS-1 along with a number of other updates and enhancements we have added to Avitar Assessing. We anticipate completing this process this week and should have the update available for distribution the week of August 16th.

While the changes to the MS-1 are nominal and largely cosmetic (there is only one new question regarding who appraises your utility values, but a handful of format and label changes), we suggest that you wait to print your final version (i.e. the one you have the selectmen sign and submit to DRA) until you receive the update.  In the meantime, you and/or your assessor can use the existing format if you need to prepare or review -- the new version does not alter or modify any of the values or calculations on the MS-1 or introduce any new exemptions categories.  Once you get the update with this year's format, you will literally be able to just print it, sign it, and send it to DRA.

We will notify you again once the update is available.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
 

Avitar's office in Chichester will close on Tuesday, May 4th promptly at 4:30 PM so our electrician can integrate our new backup power generator into our electrical system.  Following this change, we should no longer be susceptible to the vagaries of the wind, snow, or our local electric utility.  However, as we undergo this upgrade our regular phones (798-4419) will not be available for software support.

Should you need software support help on Tuesday after 4:30 PM you have the following options:

• Email the appropriate support email address and wait for us to call you.
• Call 798-4017 and you will be transferred to one of us located off site.
  Use the mobile phone numbers for Patty or Dave or Josh you may have been provided in the past.
• Wait until Wednesday morning and call us at the usual 798-4419 number.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

We are currently distributing an update for the Tax Collect program.  Users should look for a disc in the mail in the next week.  As always, update notes will be included on the disc itself.  If you just can't wait you can view them here.

IMPORTANT: The Tax Collect User Group session originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 24, 2010 has been canceled due to the winter weather advisory.  The session has been rescheduled for April 14th.  Please contact Patty if you still plan to attend.

We recently distributed an email request for input regarding a Tax Collect users group meeting on February 24, 2010. After reading all the responses, we decided to offer two users group meetings. We will hold the first on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at 10:00am and we will hold the second on Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at 10:00am. Hopefully, this will accommodate those who could not attend the February meeting.  As always, please contact Patty beforehand if you plan to attend either meeting to make sure we have room for everyone. 

Topics for these two meetings will include a detailed review of items included in the upcoming update, credit card and Internet payments, a review of the liening and deeding process, and of course whatever topics users bring to discuss.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Patty and Josh will be at the Annual Conference of the New Hampshire Tax Collectors' Association from October 14th to 16th at the Balsams.  Please make sure to stop by the Avitar booth in the vendor section to say hello, see what's new, and generally help them fight boredom.

Patty will be at the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks Association Annual Meeting at the Red Jacket in North Conway from September 9th to the 10th.  Stop by and see her at our display. 

We are in the process of rolling out our new and improved web-site at avitarassociates.com.  If you're reading this it means we've suceeded thus far.  In the coming weeks and months we will be using this site to provide more interactive demonstrations, support materials, and information for our many clients and users.  In the meantime, please feel free to contact us if you have difficulties finding any resources.

We mailed out the latest update for Avitar Assessing on August, 18th.  This update includes the final, DRA-approved format for the 2009 MS-1report.  Please look for the update in the mail in the coming days.  If you generate your MS-1 report from the Avitar program make certain to install the update before printing your final MS-1 report.  Otherwise, the DRA may reject your report.

If you are eager to complete your final MS-1 report and you have yet to receive the update, please feel free to contact us and we can walk you through the process of downloading the update.

Also, please note that we've been receiving feedback from some users installing the latest Assessing update, and we wanted to let you know of an issue affecting some users during the update process and a method by which you can possibly save yourself some time and headaches.

The Problem: This update installs a new DLL file used by the program in order to produce the custom PID format within reports.  On several systems, this file has not been registered correctly with the operating system as part of the update process.

The Symptom: Your update will install, but you receive an error when printing reports indicating something cryptic like "the following text does not appear to be part of the formula."

The Solution: Whether or not any of your computers will behave this way, you can save yourself some time by simply uninstalling the Avitar Assessing program before applying the update.  The uninstall/reinstall process forces the new file to register correctly.  Note, however, that the uninstall/reinstall process will not remove or delete your data. 

To uninstall and reinstall the Avitar Assessing application:

Step 1:  Before you insert your update disk, uninstall the Assessing program by going to the Control Panel and clicking on Add or Remove Programs. Highlight Avitar Assessing and press the Remove button.

Step 2:  Insert the disk and install the update as you would normally.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns or need help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.

City of Nashua
Town of Lisbon
Town of Plymouth
Town of Chatham
City of Manchester