Falmouth keeps single tax rate; assessors say software and staffing limit residential exemption
Loading...
Summary
The Select Board unanimously adopted a residential factor of 1, keeping a single tax rate for all property classes and rejecting small commercial, open-space and residential exemptions. Assessing staff cited software conversion and the need for additional staffing to implement a residential exemption.
The Falmouth Select Board voted unanimously on Dec. 16 to keep a single tax rate for all property classes by adopting a residential factor of 1 under Chapter 40 of Massachusetts law.
Tricia Pavulli, Director of Assessing, told the board that the assessors recommend the single rate after reviewing available options including a small commercial exemption, an open‑space exemption and a residential exemption. Pavulli said implementing a residential exemption would require a major mailing (about 20,000 applications), additional software functionality in the town's Munis conversion, and at least one additional assessor's office staff member to process applications and vet domiciles and trusts.
Pavulli said the town’s assessors have already increased some senior and veterans’ exemptions and are exploring grant options for fee‑type programs. Board members asked whether the staffing and software could be in place soon; Pavulli said the Munis conversion and related software changes would not be fully available to the assessors until late 2025, and that an earliest realistic implementation for a residential exemption would be 2027.
Following discussion, Select Board member [name recorded in roll call] moved the motion to keep the residential factor at 1 and reject the other listed exemptions; the motion carried unanimously.
