Blackstone assessors roll out abatement packet, set January window and plan executive session on confidential exemptions

The Town of Blackstone Board of Assessors on Wednesday introduced a new abatement packet to guide residents through property tax appeals, confirmed the abatement filing window opens Jan. 1, 2025 and closes Feb. 3, 2025, and moved to enter executive session to consider confidential abatements and exemptions.

The packet, described to the board by Marcus of the assessor’s office, compiles instructions and examples intended to help taxpayers understand valuation dates, what evidence to submit, and how staff evaluates abatement requests. "We're introducing an abatement packet effectively. It's a set of papers that... offer explicit instructions on how, when, why, and what to submit with your abatement application to give us the best possibility to evaluate and fairly consider any request for abatement," Marcus said.

Why it matters: the packet and new online field-card access are meant to give property owners information to review their 2025 valuations before filing for abatement. Marcus told the board the department is converting every field card to PDF and will link them through Access GIS; he said the field cards will be current as of the end of calendar year 2024 and the fiscal-year-2025 valuations are based on a valuation date of Jan. 1, 2024 using qualified sales from calendar year 2023.

Marcus said the office will also publish a spreadsheet of qualified 2023 sales so residents can compare market data underlying their valuations. "Anyone who is seeing significant changes in their valuation... that's the first place to go," he said, urging review of the posted materials before filing an abatement.

Board members reiterated filing timing and logistics. One member reminded the public that the abatement window is not open until Jan. 1 and requested that residents not submit abatement applications early. Staff confirmed the abatement form will be available online for download and that hard copies will be available at the assessor’s office.

The board also reviewed routine administrative items (vouchers, motor vehicle abatements) and approved the minutes from the Nov. 20, 2024 meeting. Later in the meeting the chair moved that the board go into executive session "to discuss and vote on matters that are confidential in accordance with the law such as but not limited to the abatements and exemptions, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 59, §§ 60 and 52." The transcript excerpt does not record the roll-call votes or final outcome of that motion.

Separately, staff summarized the state HERO Act, noting some veterans' exemptions are automatic at the state level while others may require local action at town meeting or approval by the board of selectmen; residents were directed to Dennis in veteran services for more information.

The board scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 23, 2025. The office advised taxpayers to review the published field cards and qualified-sales spreadsheet and to file abatement requests early in the January window to allow time for review before the Feb. 3 deadline.