The Town of Lakeville Board of Assessors met Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Lakeville Public Library and unanimously approved the Dec. 12 meeting minutes and a veteran exemption, reviewed a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that projects a modest increase driven largely by a software contract, and voted to move a single-bid assessment services contract discussion into executive session.

The board adopted the Dec. 12 minutes by voice vote. Chair (Board of Assessors) moved to approve the minutes; a second was called and the motion passed unanimously.

The board also voted to approve and sign a veteran "22" exemption that the board reviewed during the meeting. Chair moved to approve the exemption; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

David (staff member) described items the board reviewed but did not require separate votes. On uncollectible personal property taxes for tax years 2014–2016, David said these are bills the town cannot collect "for a variety of reasons," including businesses that closed or proprietors who cannot be reached. He also said the write-offs are covered by the town's overlay fund. The transcript record of the exact dollar amounts discussed was not clearly stated in the meeting record provided and is therefore not specified in this summary.

David presented a preliminary FY26 budget projection for the assessment department. He said the department's four vendor contracts account for the bulk of costs and that the department's proposed vendor budget would increase from $123,375 to $127,400, an increase of $4,025, or about 3.26 percent. David said he reached out about multi-year pricing but that Envision does not offer multi-year contracts. "I provided a document that shows you folks, in the fourth column, the fiscal year 25 budget for each of the various budget line items," David said, describing the packet materials. The board discussed that most accounts are flat and that the Vision (GIS/assessment database) contract is the principal driver of the increase; the Vision contract was described as potentially increasing by about 19 percent and accounting for the bulk of the requested increase.

Board members asked clarifying questions about repair and maintenance and how vehicle replacement is funded. Chair and David confirmed vehicle replacement is handled through a town capital line outside the assessment department's operating budget and that staff salaries are managed separately by human resources.

On procurement, David reported that the assessment services request for proposals (RFP) was opened and that RRG was the only bidder. Because the matter involves contract decisions, Chair moved to take the assessment services contract discussion into executive session. The board moved into executive session and did not return to open session; a roll-call vote was taken before adjourning the public meeting.

The board said it will submit the FY26 draft budget materials to Andrew (unspecified role) for the town administrator's office to incorporate into the townwide budget process prior to the spring town meeting.

Votes at a glance:
- Approval of Dec. 12, 2025 meeting minutes — Motion carried unanimously (voice vote).
- Approval/signature of veteran "22" exemption reviewed during the meeting — Motion carried unanimously (voice vote).
- Motion to move into executive session to discuss assessment services RFP (single bidder: RRG) and not return to open session — Roll-call vote recorded as aye by members present; executive session entered.

The board did not take further public action on the assessment services contract; details and any subsequent decisions will not be available in the public record until the board reports them following any required process.