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Wrentham Select Board adopts 1.34 classification shift, approves 10% small commercial exemption and rejects residential exemption
Summary
After a detailed presentation by assessors on 2026 valuations, the Select Board voted 5–0 to adopt a 1.34 CIP shift (residential factor ≈0.9271), approve a 10% small commercial exemption and decline a residential exemption; assessors said residential values rose modestly while commercial values increased more in 2024.
Wrentham’s Select Board concluded its annual tax classification hearing by voting to adopt a split rate that shifts a portion of the levy away from residential property and onto commercial and personal property.
Assessors reported that single-family values rose roughly 1% year-over-year, two- and three-family values rose about 2% and condominiums saw a larger jump. The board heard that commercial valuations increased about 7% in the most recent assessment, a relative rise that influenced discussion of where to set the residential/commercial split.
Thomas Delacido, presenting the assessor’s analysis, explained the options range and how different CIP shifts would affect owners across property values. "If you look at the residential impact increase, it's $23,461," Delacido said, illustrating how percentage and dollar impacts differ by class. He also identified a trigger point near a 1.32 shift where commercial increases begin to exceed residential increases on certain value bands.
Members debated an options band between 1.32 and 1.39. Chair Selectman Anderson said he favored starting near the 1.32 level but was open to compromise; other members recommended slightly higher shifts to share burden with commercial taxpayers while remaining mindful of residents on fixed incomes. After discussion and no public speakers, the board voted to set the CIP shift at 1.34 with an associated residential factor of approximately 0.9271.
On subsequent votes, the board adopted a 10% small commercial exemption to reduce taxes for qualifying small commercial properties and voted not to adopt a residential exemption. All three motions passed 5–0.
Votes at a glance: - CIP shift (residential factor 0.9271 / shift 1.34): Approved 5–0. - Small commercial exemption (10%): Approved 5–0. - Residential exemption: Rejected 5–0.
The assessors advised the board that the single tax rate for fiscal year 2026 would be 1.260 if the town had chosen a single rate, and that their recommended split and exemption choices reflect efforts to balance residential affordability with commercial competitiveness and the town’s revenue needs. Town staff will post detailed rate tables and taxpayer impact examples following formal certification by the Department of Revenue.
