Newton Council approves $1.49M assessing budget amid tax exemption discussions

Newton City Council convened on May 15, 2025, where significant discussions centered around the city’s assessing and treasury budgets, highlighting key financial challenges and departmental changes.

Counselor Lipoff praised the Newton Assessing Department for its performance, noting positive feedback from staff compared to other towns. The department's budget was approved with a total of $1,488,489, following a unanimous straw vote of 8 to 0. Notably, Mr. Shaughnessy revealed that the city holds approximately $5 billion in exempt property valuation, primarily from colleges and hospitals, with Boston College contributing a mere $100,000 in pilot payments. He emphasized that valuation changes linked to zoning adjustments would be recognized as new growth, although the impact of recent sales in the Village Center Overlay District remains undetermined.

In treasury matters, Treasurer Ron Mendez highlighted a shift towards enhanced data security to combat fraud, referencing a significant incident in Arlington, Massachusetts, where the town lost $400,000 due to a vendor impersonation scheme. The treasury budget, totaling $37,511,495, also saw a $57,000 increase in personnel costs due to union contracts. The budget was approved with a straw vote of 7 to 0, despite concerns raised about the lack of insurance coverage for fraud-related losses.

The meeting concluded with discussions on the law department's budget, led by City Solicitor Ali Giuliani, who addressed ongoing challenges in filling attorney positions. The council's decisions reflect a proactive approach to managing the city's financial landscape while addressing potential vulnerabilities in fraud prevention and legal staffing.