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State tells Town of Blackstone to correct preliminary FY2025 tax bills after valuation error
Summary
At a Sept. 4 Board of Assessors meeting, staff disclosed that preliminary FY2025 tax bills were prepared using full 2025 valuations instead of the June 30, 2024 assessed values; the Division of Local Services instructed the town to follow IGR 2024-8 and abate any excess charges while notifying affected taxpayers.
The Town of Blackstone Board of Assessors announced at its Sept. 4 meeting that the state Division of Local Services has instructed the town to correct preliminary fiscal-year 2025 property tax bills after staff used full 2025 valuations instead of the June 30, 2024 assessed values.
An assessor reading the DLS correspondence said the guidance—citing General Law chapter 60, section 3A and IGR 2024-8—directs communities to base preliminary tax bills on adjusted net tax due in the previous fiscal year and not on projected valuations or tax-rate forecasts. The assessor said DLS "strongly advises Blackstone to follow the process" and to provide notice to affected taxpayers.
The assessor reported that the error produced 268 properties with higher valuations and 781 properties with lower valuations. "The ones that went up, those are easy as far as the abatement process," the assessor said, adding that the board is seeking DLS direction on how to handle the 781 properties that decreased.
The DLS guidance cited in the letter describes abatement processing rules for preliminary tax bills and indicates amounts abated should be charged to clearing tax receipts rather than the fiscal-year overlay for 2025. The assessor said the town has compiled a list of affected properties and expects to have more information after consulting with DLS at a meeting planned for next Thursday.
During public comment, Lynn Robinson of 12 Meadow Lane said she had tried to alert the board earlier and objected to an earlier public statement that she "caused a ruckus." Robinson also told the board she believes the vendor the town is using has had similar issues in other towns, naming Lakeville and Marlborough. The assessor apologized to Robinson for earlier misinformation and said, "If I made a mistake or I was told something, I'm gonna come on TV. I'm gonna apologize, and I'm gonna own it." (Quote paraphrased from the meeting record.)
A board member asked staff to research optional senior exemptions and newly available veterans exemptions under the recently passed "Heroes Act" as possible ways to offset some increases for affected taxpayers; the board agreed to add that work to a future agenda.
The meeting ended on a procedural motion to adjourn, which the board approved by voice vote. The assessor said the board will provide an update to the public once DLS issues formal guidance and the assessors have reviewed the list of affected properties.
