Eastham assessors say HERO Act change will raise veterans exemption; effect begins in fiscal 2027

The Chair of the Eastham Board of Assessors reported that the town’s recent annual meeting approved an update to the HERO Act that the board will implement by applying the annual cost-of-living adjustment and a one-time 50% increase to affected exemptions. "So, it'll be 150% essentially...that will take place for fiscal '27," the Chair said, citing the town meeting action and the office’s plans for implementation.

The board discussed how the COLA will be determined each year. The Chair said the town uses the state-issued informational guidance (IGR) to set the COLA for senior exemptions and that the same mechanism will now be applied to the veterans exemption. The Chair added that the COLA changes year to year and staff will follow the state guidance to compute the adjustment.

Officials used a numerical example during the update: a $400 veterans exemption would be increased by 50% under the board’s implementation to $600. The Chair emphasized that any further increase beyond the current change would require a return to town meeting for approval. "It would have to go to town meeting again if it were to be increased," the Chair said.

The board did not record a formal vote on specific implementation procedures in the posted minutes; staff said fuller valuation numbers and related data are still being finalized as part of the office’s ongoing data-entry work. The board plans to complete data entry and follow up administratively as the COLA figure is posted, and the change is scheduled to take effect in fiscal 2027.

The Chair also noted routine office business — ongoing staff training, a forthcoming motor vehicle commitment that will be handled in executive session, and that there were no public commenters present for the public-comment slot.