During a recent government meeting, council members celebrated significant savings for taxpayers and discussed the town's property tax strategy for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting highlighted the successful management of public safety funding through a dedicated property tax, which has been in place since 2007. This tax currently covers approximately 23% of the operational costs for the police and fire departments.

Scott McCarthy, the town's finance director, presented a resolution aimed at maintaining a property tax freeze for the second consecutive year. The freeze is designed to prevent increases in property taxes for existing homeowners, despite rising property values. McCarthy noted that the assessed value of properties in the community has seen an impressive growth of over 11% in the past year, driven by both existing properties and new construction.

The council unanimously approved the resolution, which is projected to save taxpayers around $20 million over five years compared to what would have been collected without the freeze. Approximately 33,000 existing homeowners will see their property tax bills remain unchanged, while new property owners will contribute to the tax base.

McCarthy emphasized the importance of strategic planning for the future, suggesting that discussions about the property tax freeze and its implications should be a key topic in the upcoming strategic planning session in January. He pointed out that the growth of assessed values and effective budget management have allowed the town to sustain the freeze, providing stability and predictability for taxpayers.

The meeting concluded with a call for continued community engagement and feedback on the property tax strategy as the council prepares for future fiscal planning.