Brookfield trustees finalize 2025 tax rate and approve $1.85 million warrant

Brookfield trustees on [date not specified in the transcript] finalized the town's 2025 tax rate at $13.15 per $1,000 of assessed value and voted to sign the tax warrant required to issue bills.

"Our tax rate has been finalized for the 2025 tax year. It's at 13.15," Speaker 2 announced before moving to approve the warrant. After some members reviewed printed pages and clarified totals, Speaker 3 read the printed tax bill and confirmed the warrant total of $1,853,501.67. "The tax bill that was printed is $1,853,501.67," Speaker 3 said; the motion to sign the warrant was seconded and the board voted in favor.

The board also addressed a small abatement related to an elderly-exemption language problem that DRA (Department of Revenue Administration) had flagged; Speaker 2 said a letter would accompany the tax code and reported that the abatement amount for the affected resident is $65.70. Speaker 4 moved to approve the abatement for 109 Wentworth Road; Speaker 4 and others voted "Aye," and the motion carried.

Trustees indicated they will post the five DRA pages that break down the commitment amounts and noted that school and county components are part of the total liability reported by DRA. The board asked staff to ensure the assessor's warrant and supporting pages are posted alongside tax bills so residents can review how municipal, county and education components compose the total tax commitment.

Next steps: the warrant will be signed and used by town staff to prepare and mail tax bills; trustees said they will rely on DRA and the assessor to confirm final wording and totals before bills are sent.