City & Town Bi-Weekly Newsletter

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2024 City & Town

Articles

Issue Date

Understanding and Analyzing New Growth: Part 1

April 4th

FY2024 Statewide Average Single-Family Tax Bill

Spring Resources, Tools and Trainings from DLS

Mar 21st

Mar 7th

A Message from the Secretary of Administration and Finance

Healey-Driscoll Administration Files Municipal Empowerment Act

Feb 15th

Feb 1st

The Year in Review and the Year Ahead

DLS Training Highlight: Property Tax Abatements

Jan 18th

Jan 4th

2023 City & Town

Articles

Issue Date

DLS Training Highlight: Issuing Property Tax Bills

DLS Winter Update Provides Seasonal Municipal Finance Resources for Local Officials

Dec 21st

Dec 7th

EQV: Leveling the Playing Field – Part 2

Creating a Compelling and Comprehensive Tax Rate & Classification Presentation

Nov 16th

Nov 2nd

EQV: Leveling the Playing Field

DLS Unveils Two New Visualizations

Oct 19th

Oct 5th

DLS Offers New Seasonal Resources

Sept 21st

Sept 7th

Partnering with our Cities and Towns – FY24 Funding Updates

Aug 17th

Aug 3rd

Save the Date: 2023 "What's New in Municipal Law" Seminars

Why Understanding New Growth is Important to Your Community’s Fiscal Health

Jul 20th

Jul 6th

The New Officials Edition, June 15, 2023

DLS Unveils Redesigned Data Analytics and Cherry Sheet/Local Aid Pages, Adds Visualization Tools

Jun 15th

Jun 1st

Ask DLS: Linkage Fees

May 18th

May 4th

DLS Resources for New Assessors

Free Cash Update

Apr 20th

Apr 6th

Where to Turn for Motor Vehicle Excise Resources

BLA Introduces Interactive Visualization Tool

Mar 16th

Mar 2nd

The FY2023 Statewide Average Single-Family Tax Bill

DLS Unveils New Visualizations Tools for the New Year

Feb 16th

Feb 2nd

DLS and MMA Present "Municipal Finance Management: Resources and Tools" Webinar

Remembering DLS Attorney Don Gorton

Jan 19th

Jan 5th

2022 City & Town

Articles

Issue Date

Thank You from Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito

DLS Improves Our Website

Dec 15th

Dec 1st

Highly Recommended: Financial Reserves

Introducing Foundations in Municipal Finance for the New Official

Nov 17th

Nov 3rd

Continuing Our Commitment to Supporting the Next Generation of Local Officials

A Message from Community Compact Cabinet Chair Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito

Oct 20th

Oct 6th

It's a Busy Fall for All

Time is Running Out to Register for the 2022 "What's New in Municipal Law" Seminar!

Sept 15th

Sept 1st

City & Town Reader Survey

FY23 Community Compact Cabinet Programming

Aug 18th

Aug 4th

DLS Training Highlight: Overview of Municipal Debt

Ask DLS: Treatment of Opioid Settlement Payments

Jul 21st

Jul 7th

The New Officials Edition

Helpful Tools for Municipal Clerks

Jun 16th

Jun 2nd

Municipal Finance and Governance Legislation

Lt. Governor Polito highlights key municipal investments and programming

May 19th

May 5th

Overview of Municipal Budgets Webinar Now Available, Registration Still Open for Free Cash Certification Training

DLS Webinar Offerings Spring Forth

Apr 21st

Apr 7th

DLS Property Tax Takings

PERAC’s January 1, 2022 List of Retirement Boards by Funded Ratio

Mar 17th

Mar 3rd

The FY2022 Statewide Average Single-Family Tax Bill

New Year, New DLS Webinars

Feb 17th

Feb 3rd

Looking Back at 2021 and Ahead to 2022

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito Announces Opening of FY2022 Community Compact Cabinet Efficiency & Regionalization Grant Program

Jan 20th

Jan 6th

2021 City & Town

Articles

Issue Date

The Second Round of the Community One Stop For Growth Grants: “Expression of Interest”

Dec 16th

The Results Are In

Dec 2nd

Training Highlight: Property Tax Abatement Videos Municipal Finance Training and Resource Center

Nov 18th

Save the Date: MARPA and DLS Virtual Statewide Municipal Conference

Nov 4th

An Update on Free Cash

TAB is Now FMRB

Oct 21st

Oct 7th

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito Announces Opening of FY2022 Community Compact Cabinet IT Grant Program

New Updates and Helpful Reminders

Sep 16th

Sep 2nd

Splitting the Differences: Reviewing Tax Rate Shifts

A Message from Lt. Governor Polito on FY22 Community Compact Cabinet Programming

Aug 19th

Aug 5th

Financing Massachusetts Town Government: Part 3 - Bill Arrigal & Tony Rassias

Highlighting the FY22 Capital Plan - Michael J. Heffernan - Secretary of the EOA&F

Jul 15th

Jul 1st

Transitioning to New Opportunities at DLS, Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin

Staying Informed with DLS - Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin

Jun 17th

Jun 3rd

An Update Regarding Sales, Meals and Rooms Tax - DOR Commissioner Snyder

It's Time to Update the Local Officials Directory!

May 20th

May 6th

New Growth, Employee Onboarding/Offboarding, Setting the Tax Rate, and Calculating the Levy and Tax Limit Trainings

Changes at DLS - Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin

Apr 15th

Apr 1st

DLS Municipal Finance Training & Resource Center User Survey

Better than Average DLS Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin

Mar 18th

Mar 4th

An Update from A&F Secretary Heffernan

A Look at FY2021 Tax Levies, Assessed Values and Tax Rates

Feb 18th

Feb 4th

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito Announcing Launch of the Community One Stop for Growth

Looking Ahead to 2021 DLS Senior Deputy Commissioner

Jan 21st

Jan 7th

2020 City & Town

Articles

Issue Date

An End of the Year Message from Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito

DLS Unveils New Online Municipal Training Calendar

Dec 17th

Dec 3rd

30B Emergency Procurement Authority

Importance of the Utility Class and Valuation Methodology

Nov 19th

Nov 5th

Free 2020 What's New in Municipal Law" Seminar Now Available Online

Round 2 of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund - Municipal Program

Oct 15th

Oct 1st

New DLS Video Gives Informational Help on TELPs

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito Announces Opening of FY21 Community Compact Cabinent IT Grant Program

Sep 17th

Sep 3rd

DLS Online Municipal Finance Training and Resource Center Update

DLS Online Financial Indicator Tools

Aug 20th

Aug 6th

Updated Information Regarding Coronavirus Relief Funds

A Message from Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito on School Reopening this Fall

Jul 16th

Jul 2nd

DLS Online Resources Provide Helpful Info for Both Local Officials and the General Public

Continuing our Commitment to Supporting Communities from Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin

Jun 18th

Jun 4th

A Message from ANF Secretary Heffernan Regarding Coronavirus Relief Funds

A Message from the Lieutenant Governor Regarding the Community Compact Program

May 21st

May 7th

Dealing with the Impact of COVID-19 on Local Government's Financial Health

DLS Municipal Finance Resources and a Legislative Update Related to COVID-19 State of Emergency

Apr 16th

Apr 3rd

New Content on the DLS Municipal Finance Training & Resource Center

Mar 5th

Introducing the DLS Municipal Finance Training & Resource Center

Reviewing FY2020 Average Single-Family Residential Tax Bills

Feb 20th

Feb 6th

Highlighting Areas of Local Interest in the FY21 Budget

An Update from the Lieutenant Governor

Jan 23rd

Jan 9th

2019 City & Town

Articles	Issue Date
DLS Website Refresh Underway Ask DLS: Miscellaneous Recurring Questions	Dec 19th Dec 5th
A Look at Residential Value Increases Snow and Ice Update: FY2018 Expenditures	Nov 21st Nov 7th
DLS Hosts Highly Attended "What's New in Municipal Law" Seminars RMV Launching New ATLAS System Nov. 12: Action Required for Excise and Non-Renewals	Oct 17th Oct 3rd
Community Compact IT Grant Program Now Open DLS Prepares for a Busy Fall	Sept 19th Sept 5th
Announcing Year Five of the Community Compact Program Living with the Residential Exemption	August 15th August 1st
Introducing the DLS Data Analytics and Resources Bureau	July 18th
2019 New Officials Finance Forum Presentation Now Available Online Things to Keep in Mind When Closing the Books on the Fiscal Year	June 20th June 6th
Lt. Governor Polito Launches Public Awareness Campaign to Prevent Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Happy Municipal Month!	May 16th May 2nd
Register Now for the 2019 New Officials Finance Forum FY2019 Sewer Rate Relief Awards	April 18th April 4th
SAVE THE DATE: 2019 New Officials Finance Forum Set for June 6th Area of Fiscal Stress: Pension Assessments	March 21st March 7th
Visualizing Equalized Valuations An Introductory Message from the Municipal Finance Law Bureau Chief	February 21st February 7th
Regulating and Insuring Short-term Rentals FAQs Looking Back at 2018 and Ahead to 2019	January 17th January 3rd

2018 City & Town

Articles	Issue Date
Proposed FY2020 State Owned Land Valuation under MGL C. 58 § 13-17 Identifying Fiscal Stress: Diminishing Reserves	December 20th December 6th
Important Dates & Information A Career of Public Service Excellence	November 15th November 1st
Announcing FY18 Community Compact IT Grant Program Awards A State House Notes Program Update	October 18th October 4th
DLS Fall Update Snow Time Like the Present to Discuss Budgeting for Winter	September 20th September 6th
Announcing Year Four of the Community Compact Cabinet Program Discussing Community Preservation	August 16th August 2nd
Determining and Analyzing the Proposed 2018 Equalized Valuation BLA Prepared for the Year Ahead	July 19th July 5th
Ending the (Fiscal) Year on a Good Note New Balance Sheet Reporting Requirements	June 21st June 7th
Municipal Month Continues! Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito announces May is Municipal Month	May 17th May 3rd
Identifying Fiscal Stress Using the DLS Trend Dashboard Time to Update Gateway's Local Officials Directory	April 19th April 5th
FY2018 BLA Surveys Yield Positive Responses On Debt Affordability Studies	March 15th March 1st
Southborough's "Desktop" Data Review DLS Unveils the Municipal Finance Trend Dashboard	February 15th February 1st
$2M in Community Compact Grants Awarded to Municipalities and Schools	January 18th

2017 City & Town

Articles	Issue Date
'Tis the Season to Set Tax Rates! New Housing Choice Initiative	December 7th December 21st
Chapter 200: Don't Forget to Check! "Why Wasn't I Notified?": Maintaining the Local Officials Directory	November 2nd November 16th
Fall Conferences, Seminars and a New Website Announcing Year Two of the Efficiency and Regionalization Competitive Grant Program	October 5th October 19th
A Message from Secretary Heffernan Peering Over the Data: Tips for Comparing Communities	September 7th September 21st
Save the Date for Implementing Best Practices:A Statewide Conference for Municipal Officials and Staff Announcing Year Three of the Community Compact Cabinet Program	August 3rd August 17th
DLS Provides Municipal Law Books (Bulletin 39) to Municipalities at No Cost FY18 Budget Update and Related Items	July 6th July 20th
Secretary Lepore Highlights the FY18 Capital Budget A Long-Term Perspective on Proposition 2 1/2 Overrides	June 1st June 15th
What's the Number? A Look at FY17 New Growth: Part 2 Announcing the FY17 Community Compact IT Grant Program Awards	May 4th May 18th
Statewide Expansion of Enterprise Funds Springing into Budget and Town	April 6th April 20th
Submitting the LA-4 in a Certification Year Efficiency and Regionalization Grants: Round Two Awarded	March 2nd March 17th
DLS Staff Receive Awards for Exemplary Public Service Modernization of Gateway Schedule A	February 2nd February 16th
Ask DLS: Municipal Modernization FY2017 Single-Family Residential Tax Bill	January 5th January 19th

2016 City & Town

Articles	Issue Date
Maintaining the Local Officials Directory Updates on the Community Compact Grant Program	December 1st December 15th
The Pillars of the Budgeting Process Timely Reminders	November 3rd November 17th
PERAC Provides Insights into Pension Liabilities How Close is Your Ceiling?	October 6th October 20th
DLS to Highlight Recent Modernization Bill in Upcoming Legal Seminars Announcing Year Two of the Community Compact Cabinet Program	September 1st September 15th
Municipal Modernization Enters the Home Stretch Municipal Modernization Signed into Law	August 4th August 18th
BLA Pilots Self Reporting A Review of Municipal Government Structures	July 7th July 21st
Secretary Lepore Highlights the FY17 Capital Plan Community Compacts Continue to Exceed Expectations	June 2nd June 16th
Uncollected Property Taxes and Excises in Cities and Towns Updates You May Find Helpful	May 5th May 19th
Gateway Modernization Features Streamlined Processes and Improved Notification DLS Online and in the Field	April 7th April 21st
An Update on Municipal Modernization Data Leveraging the Power of Data	March 3rd March 17th
Looking Ahead Highlighting DLS New Hires and Promotions	February 4th February 18th
The Tax Rate Season in Review DLS at MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show	January 7th January 21st

Image credits: DOR Publishing

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City & Town Bi-Weekly Newsletter

Table of Contents

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2024 City & Town

2023 City & Town

2022 City & Town

2021 City & Town

2020 City & Town

2019 City & Town

2018 City & Town

2017 City & Town

2016 City & Town

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