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Finance Committee backs veteran property-tax COLA from 2024 HERO Act
Summary
The committee recommended approval of Article 22 to accept Clause 22I of the 2024 HERO Act, which allows a cost-of-living adjustment to the Massachusetts disabled-veteran property tax exemption starting in FY2026.
The Sudbury Finance Committee on March 17 recommended approval of Article 22, a local acceptance of Clause 22I from the 2024 "HERO Act," which permits municipalities to apply a cost-of-living adjustment to existing disabled-veteran property-tax exemptions.
Cynthia Gary, director of assessing, told the committee Article 22 implements the state-level option found in Chapter 178 of the Acts of 2024 and that adoption is required at the municipal level for the change to take effect in FY2026. She explained the clause increases the statutory exemption amounts by a COLA determined annually by the Department of Revenue, and that the COLA compounds year over year.
Why it matters: If Town Meeting accepts Clause 22I, qualifying disabled veterans in Sudbury would see the dollar amount of their statutory property-tax exemption increase annually by the DOR-determined COLA. Cynthia estimated that, using the FY2025 COLA of 3.4% as a baseline, the incremental cost to the town in the first year would be small'about $1,600 based on current caseloads.
Committee discussion and vote
Gary said the COLA would apply to current disabled-veteran exemptions, noting the existing statutory amounts (examples she gave: $4'$800 range for varying disability ratings and $1,000'$2,000 for 100% or unemployable ratings). She clarified that the option is a local acceptance and that the state does not provide additional reimbursement for this local option.
A motion to recommend approval was made and seconded; the committee voted to recommend Article 22. Committee members called the article relatively straightforward and described it as a low-cost benefit for disabled veterans.
Speakers
- Cynthia Gary, Director of Assessing, Town of Sudbury (presented the article and staff analysis). - Hank, Finance Committee member (asked clarifying questions about eligibility bands and the statutory basis).
Authorities
- statute: "An Act Empowering and Recognizing Our Service Members and Veterans (HERO Act), Chapter 178 of the Acts of 2024"; referenced_by:["article-22-hero-act-disabled-veteran-exemption"] - statute: "Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 59, section 5"; referenced_by:["article-22-hero-act-disabled-veteran-exemption"]
Actions
- Motion: Recommend approval of Article 22 (local acceptance of Clause 22I of the HERO Act, implementing COLA for disabled-veteran exemptions). Mover: not specified. Second: Eric (as recorded). Outcome: recommended to Town Meeting. Notes: Committee cited small fiscal impact and benefit to qualifying disabled veterans.
Provenance
transcript_segments:[{"block_id":"784.40497","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Sure. Cynthia Gary, director of assessing. Now can you hear me okay? ... I'm here, I guess, to talk about, 2025, annual town meeting article 22, cost of living adjustment for veteran real property tax exemption.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"1308.86","local_start":0,"local_end":60,"evidence_excerpt":"Article 22, it is on the consent calendar. So there won't be an opportunity to speak to it. But if there were, I I think we can safely say it's it's helping disabled veterans at a very low cost to the, to the town.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]
