Duty of assessor; reimbursement by State

1. Examination and identification. The assessor shall examine each application for homestead exemption that is timely filed with the assessor, determine whether the property is entitled to an exemption under this subchapter and identify the exemption in the municipal valuation. 2. Entitlement to reimbursement by the State; calculation. A municipality that has approved homestead exemptions under this subchapter may recover from the State: 3. Information provided to State; deviations in assessment ratio. The assessor shall provide by June 1st, annually, any relevant information requested by the bureau for the purpose of determining the actual assessment ratio for developed parcels in use in a municipality. The certified ratio declared by the municipality must be considered accurate by the bureau if it is within 10% of the assessment ratio last determined by the bureau in its annual report of ratio studies involving developed parcels of property. The assessor may submit additional information on the relevant assessment ratio to the bureau in order to prove that a different ratio should apply. The bureau may accept a certified ratio that deviates more than 10% from the last reported developed parcel ratio only if the information submitted by the municipality clearly indicates that the certified ratio is more accurate than the assessment ratio contained in the bureau's most recent annual report. 4. Estimated and final payments by the State. Reimbursement to municipalities must be made in the following manner. 5. Reimbursement for state mandated costs. The bureau shall reimburse municipalities and the Unorganized Territory Education and Services Fund for state mandated costs in the manner provided in Title 30-A, section 5685 .