City & Town Newsletter
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2009
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| August | DLS Gateway Enhancements for FY2010 | |
| July | The Accomplishments of Communities and Their Control Boards | |
| June | The Good Old Days | Equalized Valuations (EQV) |
May  | Communication Key During Recertification Process | |
| April | New Impacts on Audits of Local Governments | Motor Vehicle Excise |
| January/ February | Feasibility Studies for School Construction Projects | Public Library Funding |
2008
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| December | Understanding & Applying the New Intermunicipal Agreements Law | Spending on Snow & Ice Removal |
| October/November | Community Preservation (CPA) State Match Update (Cover Story and Focus) Special Section on Municipal Finace Law Seminars | |
| September | A Primer on Financial Aspects of Special Education | Telephone Central Valuation - Trials and Tribulations |
| August | Special Purpose Stabilization Funds: A Long-Term Planning Tool | A Ten-Year Perspective on Proposition 2 1/2 Overrides |
| July | Gateway Expands to all Cities, Towns and Districts for Submission On-line | Fiscal 2008 Average Single Family Tax Bills and Assessed Values |
| June | Valuing Classified Forest Land — FY2009 | Calibration of Municpal Residential Recycling Rates Explained |
| May | What are Excess and Deficiency Funds? | State House Notes Program, FY1998 - FY2007 |
| April | Preparing Your Case for Appeal at the Appellate Tax Board | New Growth: History & Numbers |
| March | House 2: The Patrick-Murray Administration's Second Budget Proposal | Municipal Bond Ratings |
| January | DLS Gateway: Pilot Testing and Rollout Plans | The Cost of School Based Medicaid in Massachusetts |
2007
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| December | Regional Assessing | Excise Tax Revenue Throttling Down |
| October/November | IT Disaster Recovery Planning for Small Towns | FY07 Single-Family Average Tax Bills and Assessed Values |
| September | FY08 Certification Land Review | The MERIT Plan: Property Tax Relief for Veterans |
| July/August | Municipal Affairs Coordinating Council Cabinet Convenes | The Shift Was On - Split Tax Rates FY92 - FY06 Focus Table of Communities that have shifted, FY00 - FY06  |
| June | DLS Gateway brings Local Officials' Submissions Online | Sewer Rate Relief, FY04 to FY07 |
| May | Equalized Valuations and Measuring Ability to Pay for Chapter 70 | 2006 Equalized Valuations |
| April | Lowering the Cost of Health Care: What Are You Paying in Brokerage Commissions? | Task Force on Municipal Collections |
| March | Robert G. Nunes Named Director of Municipal Affairs | Superintendency Unions |
| January | Outside Annual Audits | Municipal Databank Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow |
2006
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| November | Boston's Wireless Initiative | The Community Software Consortium |
| October | Municipal Option to Join the GIC | FY07 CPA State Matching Funds Distributed |
| August/September | Municipal License Suspension | FY2007 Cherry Sheets |
| June/July | New On-Line Financial Forecasting Tool | Other Post-Employment Benefits |
| May | Energy Cost Management | Public Library Funding |
| April | Office of Watershed Management PILOT Program | How was State Owned Land Valued for 2005? |
| March | Budgeting for the Cost of Retirees' Pensions | The Evolution of the City or Town Charter |
| February | The Advantages of Online Bill Payments | Municipal Expenditures: Proper Public Purposes |
| January | Affordable Housing Valuation Issues | An Analysis of the Treatment of Municipal Revenues |
2005
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| November/December | Health Insurance for Municipal Employees | A Report from the Municipal Finance Task Force |
| October | Kelo & Eminent Domain Policy | FY2004 Equalized Valuations |
| September | Changes in Proc. Regs. to Streamline HAC Appeals | FY05 Average-Single Family Tax Bills and Assessed Values |
| July/August | New Local Officials Directory Available Online | Stabilizing Property Taxes in Volatile Real Estate Markets |
| June | Why is the Income Approach to Value Used? | New Web-Based Income and Expense Forms |
| May | SJC Issues Decision in the Hancock Case | The MA Water Pollution Abatement Trust--A Primer |
| April | 2005 State-Owned Land Valuation | Employee Health Insurance in MA: Condition Serious |
| March | DOR Seeks Help in Recording Paternity Establishments | Community Preservation Act |
| February | The MA Uniform Electronic Transaction Act | Circuit Breaker Update |
| January | The Power of Chapter 40R | FY06 Revenue Forecast |
2004
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| November/December | Income & Expense Request, etc., & ATB Dismissals | MWRA Upgrades Regional Water System |
| October | Procurement & Administration of Audit Services | Changes in Reporting & Funding Post Employment Benefit Costs |
| September | Recent Development Under the Open Meeting Law | FY04 Average-Single Family Tax Bill & Assessed Value |
| July/August | Interim Year Adjustment Reporting | Timely Tax Rate Setting |
| June | FY04 Wrap Up | "Pay As You Throw" Trash Fees--Can They Work In Your Community |
| May | Avoiding Data Protection Disasters | Recent Cherry Sheet Trends |
| April | Supplemental Tax Assessments on New Construction | Property Tax Primer: Billing, Abatements & Appeals |
| March | Construction Reform Plus Low Interest Equals New Schools | Motor Vehicle Excise Update |
| February | School Department Revolving Funds | Municipal Bond Ratings |
| January | FY05 Budget Outlook | Study of Educational and Property Tax Exemptions |
2003
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| November/December | WFB Works for Cities and Towns | Proposition 2½ Referendum Trends |
| October | Electronic Funds Transfer for Wage Withholdings | The Tax Levy |
| September | DLS' E-Government Initiatives | Municipal Readiness for E-Government |
| July/August | UMAS Manual Update Completed | 2002 Equalized Valuations |
| June | Overview of School Lunch Program | EDIP: Economic Development Power Tool |
| May | Foreclosure Cases in the Land Court | Free Cash: Sources and Trends |
| April | Considering In-House Revaluation | Chapter 653: The New Construction Amendment |
| March | The New England Council's 2003 Agenda | Municipal Fees and Charges |
| February | State-Owned Land-2005 | Short-term Borrowing and the State House Note Program |
| January | Mass Development: Levaraging Public/Private Partnership;s | A Look at FY02 Split Tax Rates |
2002
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| November/December | FY04 State Budget Outlook | Senior Property Tax Relief |
| October | A Look at the Massachusetts Public Records Law | New Growth |
| September | FY02 Residential Statistical Summary | FY02 Average Single Family Tax Bills & Assessed Values |
| July/August | MA Municipal Early Retirement Incentive | Stabilization Funds |
| June | PERAC Local Experience Study Completed | Sewer Rate Relief Update |
| May | MASS.gov: Doorway to Information | School Building Assistance Update |
| April | State Budget Process and Local Aid | MEMA and Your Community |
| March | Interim Year Adjustments: An Appraisal Issue | Can Assessors Change Your Property Value Every Year? |
| February | Implementing GASB 34: A Small Town's Perspective | Fixed Costs |
| January | A Foundation for Online Government | Community Preservation Act Update |
2001
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| November/December | Proposition 2½ -- A Look Back | Proposition 2½ -- Referenda Trends |
| October | Quality Health Care and Reasonable Costs are not Mutually Exclusive Objectives | Senior Property Tax Relief, Chapter 40B Amendments |
| September | Public Disclosure of Property Assessments | FY2001 Average Single Family Tax Bills and Assessed Values |
| July/August | State Aid to Public Libraries in Massachusetts | 2000 Equalized Valuations |
| June | PERAC Achieves Savings for Cities and Towns | Population Trends in Massachusetts |
| May | Retirement Plus: An Overview | FY01 Municipal Revenue Components |
| March | New Office of Educational Quality and Accountability | Certification and Tax Rate Setting |
| January | Encouraging Student Participation in Local Government | Motor Vehicle Excise Receipts Stable |
2000
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| December | New Rules for School Building Assistance | FY2000 Multiple Tax Rates |
| October/November | Community Preservation Act | New DOR Website for Businesses |
| September | Exchange of Ideas | School Choice |
| July/August | Appropriations Contingent on Proposition 2½ Referendum | FY2000 Average Single Family Tax Bills & Assessed Values |
| June | What is a Residential Exemption? | What's Happening with Charter Schools? |
| May | New Electric Generating Plants for Massachusetts | Room Occupancy Revenues |
| April | Senior Work-Off Abatement Program | Quarterly Tax Bills |
| March | Audits Reveal Results of Education Reform Spending | What in the World is Free Cash? |
| February | Y2K - Business as Usual | FY1998 Municipal Spending |
| January | "Circuit Breaker" for Low and Moderate Income Seniors | Proposition 2½ Referenda |
1999
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| December | Capital Improvements Program | State Public Information Campaign on Y2K |
| November | Why Become a City? | Create Your Own Custom Reports |
| October | Protecting the Community's Interest | Motor Vehicle Excise |
| September | FY2000 Automated Tax Rate Recapitulation | FY1999 Average Single Family Tax Bills & Assessed Values |
| July/August | State-Owned Land to be Revalued | Overlay Reserve |
| June | New Local Option Law Supports Brownfields Redevelopment | Local Revenue Components |
| April/May | Legislative Changes Affecting the Appellate Tax Board | 1998 Equalized Valuations |
| March | Open Space Acquisition Programs | Elderly Exemptions |
| February | Qualified Bonds | Stabilization Funds |
| January | DLS Pilots Y2K Outreach | FY1997 Municipal Spending |
1998
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| December | Financial Forecasting | School Building Assistance Act |
| November | Education Reform and Accountability | FY1998 Average Single Family Tax Bills and Assessed Values |
| September/October | Local Government Partnership Generates Enthusiasm | Municipal Debt |
| August | Abolition of County Government | Multiple Tax Rates |
| June/July | New Technology Applications Available | Free Cash Comparisons |
| May | Electric and Telecommunications Appraisal Course | A 15 Year Perspective on Proposition 2½ Overrides |
| April | The Future of Municipal Computing | Timely Tax Rate Setting |
| March | How Often Should a Community Reassess? | Effects of New Growth |
| February | Options for Title 5 Repairs | Trends in Motor Vehicle Excise Collections |
| January | Audit Committees | Massachusetts Municipal Spending |
1997
Month | Cover Story | Focus |
| November/December | Managing the Budget Process | Massachusetts State Revenues and Budgeting Process |
| October | Changes to DOE's School Finance Regulations | FY1997 Average-Single Family Tax Bills and Assessed Values |
| September | Franklin Regional Council of Governments | FY1998 Municipal Revenue Growth Factors |
| July/August | Cutting Red Tape - Executive Order 384 | 1996 Equalized Valuations |
| May/June | Bulk Sales of Receivables | Municipal Revenue Sources |
| April | Y2K - Why Care? | Free Cash - A Basic Discussion |
| March | Accountability in School Budgeting | No Focus Article |
| February | Preserving Massachusetts Farms | Massachusetts' School Choice and Charter School Programs |
| January | Amended Federal Single Audit Act of 1996 | Lottery Revenues: A Source of Aid for Municipalities |
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