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In 1948 Lawton Chandler was appointed New Hampshire’s
Tax Commissioner and served with the Tax Commission until he retired in
1972. Over the years he has served as a substitute member on the Board of
Tax and Land Appeals.
The Tax Commission was established in 1911 by
Legislature, and its members were appointed by Supreme Court and
commissioned by the Governor and Council.
In the early years between 1911 and 1912, the Tax
Commission was advised to raise assessments by revaluations in the State.
They gave orders to Towns and Cities to implement equalization of property
values. The New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials was legally
organized by law and by the Tax Commission to help revaluate properties.
In the Tax Commission’s records, the assessing officials were highly
praised for accomplishing this task efficiently and finely. This was the
beginning of the New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials.
As Tax Commissioner, Lawton Chandler was involved with
making local assessors more aware of professionalism. His enthusiasm and
desire to improve the assessing field was an inspiration to those around
him. His goal was furthering education for local Selectmen/Assessing
Officials and encouraging the State to take a more extensive hand in
establishing local values.
In 1971, the Association established their first Lawton B. Chandler
Award. This award is presented to an individual who shows outstanding
service by contributing through involvement, and encouraging others to
follow in Lawton B. Chandler’s footsteps.
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