Danvers Select Board sets residential factor at 1.51 after lengthy tax-classification hearing

John LaBelle, the town’s chief assessor, told the Select Board on Nov. 17 that FY2026 valuations show residential property comprises roughly 79% of Danvers’ total value and that new growth this year added about $854,000 to the tax base, with about 19% of that growth attributed to the Maple Square project. The Select Board’s annual tax-classification hearing followed LaBelle’s presentation of valuation slides and a review of the four decisions the board must make under Massachusetts law (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 40 §56): whether to set a residential factor and whether to adopt an open-space discount, a residential exemption or a small commercial exemption.

LaBelle explained the mechanics of a “shift” (a factor below 1.0 shifts more of the levy onto commercial and industrial property) and answered questions about new-growth numbers, the Maple Square project’s occupancy, and how multifamily values compare to single-family homes. Board members pressed for clarity on arithmetic in the slides and on how the Maple Square hotel and other projects would affect future growth.

During discussion, several members argued for balancing competing concerns: limiting the immediate hit to homeowners while recognizing that multifamily and commercial valuations have risen. One member urged keeping single-family increases under 5% for equity reasons; another argued the town should avoid shifting an outsized share to businesses. After extended debate about values in the residential mix and the distributional effect across housing types, a motion to adopt a residential factor of 1.51 was made and seconded. The motion passed 4–1. The board recorded the computed residential percentage (0.8649) that corresponds with that factor.

Earlier in the hearing the board also voted on the statutory options that accompany the classification decision: it voted not to adopt an open-space discount, it voted not to grant a residential exemption, and it voted not to offer a small commercial exemption — the town has not used those exemptions historically. Those motions carried during the meeting; the minutes and administrative record will show the formal determinations.

The Select Board’s decision changes how the FY2026 levy is distributed across classes of property; the assessor noted that final tax bills will reflect the board’s chosen factor and that projected impacts depend on final valuations and any building completions after the Jan. 1 valuation date. The board said staff will prepare the necessary paperwork for posting and next steps under state rules.

Votes at a glance: adopted residential factor 1.51 (motion passed 4–1); did not adopt open-space discount (motion carried); did not grant residential exemption (motion carried); did not grant small commercial exemption (motion carried).