Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Tax Warrants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Brookline sets preliminary 2025 tax rate as board approves warrants and reviews audit
Summary
The Select Board set a preliminary 2025 tax rate of $24.64 per $1,000 and approved multiple warrants, while hearing an auditor's letter noting routine items; the board discussed late tax bill mailings and the breakdown of rate components.
The Brookline Select Board set a preliminary 2025 tax rate of $24.64 per $1,000 and approved the week's warrants at its Nov. 24 meeting.
Chair said the Department of Revenue Administration approved the rate and explained the breakdown: local education represents 72.3% of the rate (a 10.8% increase), state education 4.6% (up 0.8%), the town 19.2% (up 3%) and the county 3.9% (up 1.17%). "The December tax bill is always higher than the July bill," the Chair told residents, noting school fiscal-year timing and apologizing for late mailings that compressed due dates near Christmas.
In reviewing warrants, the Chair explained an unusual accounting circumstance: general expense warrant #47 listed $119,508.60 but two checks issued earlier raised the total warrant to $318,275.58. He also described a voided check and reissued amount that revised warrant #43. The board moved and voted unanimously to approve the warrants as revised.
The board also reviewed the town's annual audit letter from Samuelson (CPA). The auditor flagged no significant risks beyond routine items, including the town's use of QuickBooks (the board plans corrections in 2026) and GASB matters related to retiree benefit estimations. "There were no significant risks identified other than regular concerns," the Chair said.
Board members noted year-to-date financials through October 2025: the town had expended about 75.25% of its budget while the year was 83.33% complete. The Chair said some savings reflect vacancies and that contracted engineering work for town buildings may affect year-end totals. The board asked department heads to monitor expenses as year-end purchases sometimes increase.
The board did not change the final tax rate at the meeting; webinar and citizen questions about tax notices and online property history were addressed by staff directions to resources on the town website. The board also asked staff to ensure the revised warrants and signature pages are filed in the official binder.
