City & Town Newsletters

This article serves as a welcoming guide for newly elected or appointed local officials in Massachusetts, providing essential resources, training, and information on municipal finance to assist them in their transition into public service. It highlights the support offered by the Division of Local Services (DLS) and encourages both new and experienced officials to utilize the available tools and resources for effective governance.

Impact of Verizon Settlement FY2023 - 2027 on centrally valued telephone values.

This article discusses the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in Massachusetts, detailing how it establishes a Community Preservation Fund for local cities and towns to support open space, historic resources, and community housing, while also examining recent trends in real estate activity and their impact on funding levels for the state trust fund. It highlights the fluctuations in mortgage rates, housing inventory, and sales, which have influenced contributions to the CPA and the expected distributions for future fiscal years.

This article highlights the importance of teamwork in tax rate setting, emphasizing the submission of a "Tax Rate Recapitulation Sheet" to the DLS' Bureau of Accounts. It provides resources to assist financial management teams in completing the annual tax rate process efficiently.

This article provides helpful information and analysis related to Local Receipts. Local Receipts are defined as locally generated revenues, other than real and personal property taxes. It reviews data from previous fiscal years up to Fiscal Year 2025.

This article is Part 1 in a two-part series related to new growth, the dollar increase in the annual levy limit that reflects additional tax revenue generated by new construction, renovations and other increases in the property tax base during a calendar year. It provides general information related to calculations and links to helpful resources related to the subject.

This article is Part 2 in a two-part series related to new growth, the dollar increase in the annual levy limit that reflects additional tax revenue generated by new construction, renovations and other increases in the property tax base during a calendar year. It expands on the previous article to include statewide analysis for both Fiscal Year 2024 and a five-year trend review.

This article is Part 2 in a two-part series related to new growth, the dollar increase in the annual levy limit that reflects additional tax revenue generated by new construction, renovations and other increases in the property tax base during a calendar year. It reviews New Growth data and analyzes recent trends.

This article reviews property tax structure under Proposition 2 ½ with a focus on the levy ceiling and excess levy capacity.

This article emphasizes the importance of utilizing the "Financial Indicators Dashboard" developed by the Financial Management Resource Bureau to analyze past trends, track key financial and demographic indicators, and make data-driven decisions for long-term financial stability and strategic planning in municipalities.