City & Town Newsletters

This article discusses the unique challenges faced by rural assessing offices in Massachusetts, including staffing shortages and budget constraints, and highlights the establishment of a new position aimed at providing support and resources to improve assessment operations in these communities. It also explores potential collaborative solutions, such as intermunicipal agreements and the creation of Regional Boards of Assessors, to enhance efficiency and address the specific needs of rural municipalities.

This article analyzes PERAC’s January 1, 2025 List of Retirement Boards by Funded Ratio. It reviews the latest list for the 99 municipal systems only and determine how their metrics have changed from one year ago.

This article is a helpful notification related to the required FY2027 funding of COVID-19 spending deficits prior to or on the FY27 tax rate recap.

This article reviews Proposition 2½ election results as reported to the Division of Local Services in Fiscal Year 2026. In addition to providing current and historical data, it provides information related to overrides, underrides, debt exclusions, capital exclusions and other related topics.

This article welcomes new local assessment public officials in Massachusetts, outlining the role of the DLS Bureau of Local Assessment (BLA) in providing training, guidance, and support for property valuation and classification to ensure fair and equitable assessments in their communities. It highlights resources available for assessors, including training courses, webinars, and a YouTube channel for ongoing education in property valuation and municipal finance.

This article reviews changes in Massachusetts veteran property tax exemptions including local empowerment and inflationary adjustments.

Analysis of the impact of snow and ice on general fund spending and the balance sheet.

This article reviews figures from Snow and Ice Data Sheets submitted by cities and towns to the Bureau of Accounts annually by September 30 on an unaudited basis.

This article analyzes the tax rate setting process, specifically focusing on the timing of classification hearings and related submissions and approvals.

This article provides an introduction to the basics of assessing land as it relates to the State-Owned Land Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes Program.