Acton Select Board keeps tax rates mostly unchanged, rejects small-business and open-space exemptions

The Acton Select Board on Oct. 20 reviewed assessor projections of property valuations and took four votes that maintain the town’s current approach to tax classification.

Principal Assessor CJ Carroll presented FY26/FY27 valuation changes — single-family values increased notably, condominiums rose, and commercial values rose modestly — and explained the mechanics and consequences of available classification tools (open-space discount, small commercial exemption, residential factor or split rate, and residential exemption). Carroll said the Department of Revenue certified values Oct. 24 and walked the board through examples of how different choices shift tax burdens between residential and commercial classes.

After questions and public comment, the board voted: not to adopt an open-space discount; not to adopt a small-commercial exemption; to adopt a residential factor of 1.0 (no shift to a split tax rate); and not to implement a residential exemption. Board members discussed studying a residential exemption or other tax-relief measures in future years and asked staff for implementation details if pursued. An online commenter urged more progressive taxation approaches to reduce burdens on lower-income households.

Carroll said average single-family assessed value rose to about $938,000 (up roughly $68,000 from last year) and that the average single-family tax bill moved from about $14,918 to an estimated $15,002.20 under current estimates; Carroll cautioned the tax rate shown is proposed and subject to recap adjustments. The assessor also noted health-insurance and debt-service pressures are material budget drivers moving into FY27.