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Hubbardston empowers treasurer to negotiate 10-year tax-title payment agreements and limited interest waivers
Summary
Town meeting adopted a new tax-title payment agreement bylaw (MGL c.60 ' 62A) authorizing the treasurer to enter agreements up to 10 years with 10% minimum down payments and a possible 15% waiver of accrued interest for qualifying parcels (owner-occupied, accounts under $5,000, or interest greater than principal). The change applies to the town's 68 parcels currently in tax title.
Town meeting voted to add a new section to the general bylaws to permit the treasurer to enter written tax-title payment agreements consistent with recent changes in Massachusetts law. The bylaw authorizes payment terms up to 10 years and sets a minimum down payment of 10% of the redemption amount. It also allows the treasurer discretion to waive up to 15% of accrued interest on a tax-title account when a parcel meets qualifying criteria: owner-occupied residential property, a tax-title account balance under $5,000, or when outstanding interest exceeds principal.
Treasurer Elizabeth Clemens explained the statutory change and said it applies to the roughly 68 parcels currently in tax-title status in Hubbardston, noting that previously the local maximum term had been five years and higher minimum down payments. She said properly executed payment agreements will halt land-court foreclosure as long as payments are made per the schedule.
The article passed by voice vote without opposition.
What this means: The new bylaw gives the treasurer more flexible tools to negotiate repayment plans with property owners in tax title, potentially increasing the town's ability to redeem tax-title parcels while protecting owner-occupants and small-balance accounts through limited interest relief.
