The start of field work as part of the state-mandated statistical revaluation process has been delayed, Cranston Director of Administration Daniel Parrillo said Thursday.

Field inspectors from Vision Appraisal had been scheduled to begin data collection on March 31. City Hall made an announcement about the work last week, which was publicized in this week’s edition of the Herald.

Parrillo on Thursday said Mayor Allan Fung made the decision to postpone the start of the field work based on discussions with administration officials and the determination that it would be “in the city’s best interest” to do so in light of the current COVID-19 crisis.

“Obviously, things evolve day to day with this whole pandemic … We kind of just made a decision that we’re not going to go forward with this right now,” he said.

Parrillo said no new start-up date has been finalized, but that officials are confident the work can be completed before the deadline at the end of the current calendar year.

“We don’t think pushing it back a month or so, or whatever it ends up being, will adversely affect the results,” he said.

According to the city’s announcement from last week, data was to be “verified and collected from public view and exterior inspections.”

It continues: “The city is asking for everyone’s cooperation in this process by allowing the inspectors access to the exterior of the property which IS required to complete these exterior inspections. There will be NO interior home inspections, but if the homeowner allows it, information will be gathered at the door at a safe distance by practicing social distancing.”