Acton assessor outlines tax-exemption programs and new state option to incentivize affordable long-term rentals

CJ Carroll, Acton's principal assessor, told the Select Board on Sept. 8 that the town provided just under $670,000 in tax relief across multiple programs in 2025 and outlined a newly enacted state option that could incentivize property owners to rent units at affordable rates.

Carroll said the new state option (Chapter 59, Section 5.0) "provides an incentive for property owners to rent units at an affordable housing rate to specifically low income tenants," and recommended the town study how to implement the authority before bringing any bylaw or policy to town meeting.

Why it matters: the programs discussed provide direct relief to seniors, veterans and other eligible residents and are a practical lever for locally targeted housing policy. Carroll told the board the Chapter 59 option could expand local tools to encourage long-term affordable rentals without creating deed-restricted units, but that the provision requires careful design so owners will use it.

What Carroll presented

Carroll first reviewed Acton's existing exemptions and comparable totals in neighboring towns. "In 2025, Acton provided just short of $670,000 in tax relief," he said, attributing that total to a mix of statutory exemptions…