Medford council presses administration for tax-bill outreach, votes to study residential exemption

Councilor Scarpelli told the Medford City Council on Jan. 20 that multiple residents, including seniors and small-business owners, called after receiving unexpectedly large tax bills and said they had not been prepared for the change.

“George, my tax bill this month is $2,800 and living on a fixed income, she doesn't know how she's gonna be able to pay $2,800,” Councilor Scarpelli said, describing a call from a constituent.

The council spent more than an hour on the topic, with several members urging clearer communications from the assessor’s office and the Mayor’s Communications Office and asking the Administration and Finance Committee to examine a possible residential/homeowner exemption.

Why it matters: The city enacted a property-tax override last fall; councilors and residents now say some residents did not understand how the override and updated assessments would change quarterly bills. Councilors said failing to provide clearer explanations could disproportionately affect seniors, veterans, disabled…